Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) – Liberal Party members are torn between supporting Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II or Sen. Grace Poe in the 2016 presidential race.
A party stalwart says, however, that party members expect to support whoever the President Benigno Aquino III chooses.
Roxas is the so-called “sentimental choice.”
Poe, meanwhile, is the ally who seems to have the winning edge.
But it appears the toss-up is causing a rift within the Liberal Party and its coalition partners.
LP has worked with at least five other parties over the past five years to push its agenda.
Budget Secretary Florencio Abad says the party and its coalition partners may have different views.
He admits the administration party has opposing views even within its ranks.
House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., for one, says that, while Roxas fits the presidency, his chances of winning is an issue.
Abad says everyone is expected to tow the party linc once Aquino announces his candidate for the 2016 elections, which he is expected to do so after his final State of the Nation Address on July 27.
The president has met Roxas and Poe about 2016 on separate occasions in Malacañang.
His last meeting with Poe, included Sen. Francis Escudero, who would reportedly be Poe’s running mate if she should decide to run for president.
Abad says Roxas wants the presidency and that Escudero is ready to run for vice president.
This leaves Poe with a choice to run either as vice president to Roxas or president with Escudero as running mate.
Abad says Aquino wants the three to work with the administration in 2016.
But this could mean some may need to give up the race.
“Someone should do away with personal ambitions for the country,” Abad says.
While LP members are pushing for a Roxas-Poe tandem, some say Poe will only run with Escudero, her trusted friend and her late father’s campaign spokesman.
If Poe and Escudero should team up, LP would be forced to find another vice president for Roxas.
Not too many names have cropped up aside from Poe’s, but the LP says it has options.
