Mar to accept Noy’s choice

BUTUAN CITY, Philippines – The ruling Liberal Party (LP)’s “sentimental” choice for standard-bearer in 2016 is willing to stay out of the race if President Aquino’s choice would turn out to be somebody else.

In an interview here, Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II said he is prepared to accept whoever is chosen by Aquino or the LP as the party’s presidential bet in the 2016 general elections.

“I will accept it. I did not declare I’m running anyway,” Roxas said when asked by The STAR of his next move if the President picks someone else as party standard-bearer. Aquino is LP chairman.

“It’s good that LP, including the President himself, will look, search for the best bet in 2016. It’s a normal process,” Roxas said, referring to the consensus building within the LP to pick its standard-bearer.

President Aquino told reporters on Tuesday he is also looking outside the LP for his preferred successor in the 2016 elections. He said he is consulting other parties regarding the matter while the ruling party is in the process of building a consensus.

LP stalwarts including its vice chairman Senate President Franklin Drilon and acting president Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya voiced their preference for Roxas.

They said many if not most LP members still consider the DILG chief their “sentimental” choice for party standard-bearer.

“I would prefer an LP member to be the standard bearer in 2016,” Drilon said on Tuesday in reaction to the President’s pronouncement.

“If you ask me, personally, my opinion is Secretary Mar Roxas is most qualified to continue the reforms of the President, daang matuwid (straight path). Other members of the party will have their own opinion as well, so it’s just a matter of processing everyone’s opinion,” Abaya said.

On Thursday night, Roxas reportedly held a secret meeting with elected officials of Butuan City and Agusan del Norte in an undisclosed place.

Roxas’ media relations officer Van Evangelista confirmed the meeting but declined to elaborate, saying she was not privy to what was discussed.

DILG-Caraga information officer Don Patrimonio said Roxas and his entourage arrived in Butuan City Thursday afternoon.

He said the DILG chief, shortly after his arrival at 4 p.m., went to the Butuan Doctor’s Hospital along with some ranking police officials to give awards to wounded policemen who figured in an encounter with communist rebels in Surigao del Sur recently.

The following day, Patrimonio said Roxas attended a disaster forum held at a local hotel and convention center here.

Before leaving Butuan City yesterday, Roxas reportedly met with local government officials led by Mayor Ferdinand Amante Jr. and his first cousin, Agusan del Norte Gov. Maria Angelica Rossdell Amante at another hotel.

Roxas also had a luncheon meeting with some businessmen, miners and political supporters, including DILG and national police officials, sources said.

Barangay official Rey Booc of Barangay San Ignacio, Butuan City told THE STAR that Roxas appeared to be determined to run for president – with Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano as running mate  – judging from his words and demeanor during his meeting with officials.

“Secretary Mar Roxas will definitely run in 2016 in tandem with Senator Alan Cayetano. I think this was already announced unofficially and secretly by top brass of the party but it’s okay because we will support him since he will be the standard bearer of the administration,” the barangay official said.

Another barangay official said that while Roxas may have the support of partymates and police officials, he may have to do more to make himself more appealing to the masses.