(CNN Philippines) – Senate President Franklin Drilon’s choice for possible standard bearer of Liberal Party (LP) in the 2016 national election does not have President Benigno Aquino III’s go-signal.
But Malacañan said Wednesday (April 15) the Senate President, who is also the party’s vice chairman, does not need Aquino’s blessing as Drilon is free to choose on who he believes is the right LP bet in next year’s presidential derby.
In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said that ”while the President has yet to endorse his candidate, it does not preclude the Senate President to identify the person who Senate President Drilon believes will tread the straight path and push the reforms the President started beyond 2016.”
Lacierda made the comment amid reports that the Senate President has already chosen Interior Secretary Mar Roxas II as LP’s “chosen one.”
”The President has described the virtues of someone he believes should succeed him – one that will continue to tread the straight path and continue the reforms he started in 2010,”he said.
Drilon earlier said the party is yet to hold consultations among its members insofar as its collective choice for standard bearer is concerned.
The Senate President, however, made it no secret that he would support Roxas should the latter eventually decide to seek the highest post of the land.
Roxas, for his part, said he was happy that many people were interested on his plans.
”Pero sa totoo lang, nakatutok ako sa aking trabaho (The truth is I’m focused on my job),” he told reporters at the sidelines of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines national convention in Manila Hotel Wednesday when asked if he would resign as Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to prepare for the incoming national elections.
Roxas said he considered himself a soldier of the straight path army.
”Kung anuman ang iaatas ng Pangulo sa akin ay hindi ko tatalikdan ito (I will not turn my back from whatever the President commands me),” he said.
The Philippines News Agency contributed to this report.
