Mar: No bad blood with Ping

MANILA, Philippines - Transportation Secretary Manuel Roxas II has good relations with Sen. Panfilo Lacson, the Cabinet member said yesterday.

Roxas, pro-administration Liberal Party president, said rumors circulating that he had issues with Lacson, who is reportedly set to join the Cabinet as secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, have no basis.

“He’s one of those that I admire,” he said. “He was one of our colleagues in the Senate who supported our programs.”

Meanwhile, Roxas said they have a wealth of personalities from whom to choose and select their 12 for next year’s senatorial race.

“This will not be politics for politics’ sake,” he said.

“We will look into character and a person’s record in following the ‘Matuwid na Daan’.”

Many have expressed desire to join the LP Senate slate, he added.

Roxas said President Aquino had already approved the choice of former lawmaker Risa Hontiveros, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority director general Secretary Joel Villanueva, and Aurora Rep. Sonny Angara to join the slate.

“In fact, the coalition agreements, the LDP in the case of Sonny Angara, Bangon Pilipinas Movement in the case of Joel Villanueva and Akbayan in the case of Risa Hontiveros, are already being worked on and finalized,” he said.

Roxas said Justice Secretary Leila de Lima was still among those being considered to join the slate.

It was going to be decided by Aquino and the LP council of elders, he added.

Roxas declined to say if he was going to join the LP slate or if he was being considered.

“We all serve at the pleasure of the President,” was Roxas’ repeated response to persistent queries regarding his plans for 2013.