Mar hoping for another meeting with Grace

MANILA, Philippines - Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II, standard bearer of the ruling Liberal Party (LP), said he hopes to meet again with Sen. Grace Poe.

“I would hope so. Let’s see,” Roxas said when asked if there could be more talks with Poe, whom President Aquino had previously met several times.

“Just as what the President said last Friday, it is better to have those with similar viewpoints come together in order to be a more formidable force,” Roxas told reporters in Filipino yesterday. Aquino formally endorsed Roxas as his choice for president in what was called “a gathering of friends” last Friday at Club Filipino in Greenhills.

While Roxas yesterday bid farewell to members of the police force and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) employees, the President said the interior chief would have to stay in his post pending the completion of some programs.

As regards his possible successors at the DILG, Roxas said he had “very informal” discussions with the President during the death anniversary of Aquino’s mother, the late President Cory, last Saturday.

However, he refused to reveal the names of possible candidates for DILG chief in deference to the announcement to be made by Aquino himself.

Western Samar Rep. and LP secretary-general Mel Sarmiento and Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas were among those rumored to replace Roxas at the DILG.

Meanwhile, Aquino acknowledged that Poe and Sen. Francis Escudero can hardly be persuaded into joining the administration coalition, as both will likely be running as independent candidates in 2016.

“It seems it is not the right time to fully coalesce,” Aquino told reporters. “But we are still hoping. We still want to have that unified group that will preserve the coalition that can ensure the victory of the agenda.”

Although there were no formal offers, Poe intimated that she thinks Aquino wanted her to be the running mate of Roxas.

Sources disclosed that the President also tried to persuade Escudero to give up his plans to run for vice president and was assured he would be the Senate President in the next Congress. But the idea apparently did not sit well with LP stalwart and current Senate President Franklin Drilon.

Reports said Poe and Escudero may either run independently or under former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada’s Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino.

The President said the entire LP membership will seek a consensus on who they will choose as Roxas’ running mate in next year’s polls.

“We are a party that prides itself on consensus building,” he said.

“At the end of the day, the presidential candidate should have full confidence in the running mate,” Aquino added.

Aside from Poe, Aquino said there are other personalities they are considering to be Roxas’ running mate.

Roxas is reportedly open to team up with Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano and Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo.

Jinggoy: Mar highly qualified

Detained Sen. Jinggoy Estrada said Roxas is “highly qualified” to run for president in the 2016 general elections.

But he said other candidates like Poe, Vice President Jejomar Binay and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte are also qualified to join the race.

Estrada said Roxas had been his colleague at the Senate from 2004 to 2010 and “he has shown professionalism and competence as a senator.”

“He is highly qualified to run for president. If ever he becomes the next president, I hope that he will listen to the needs of the people,” he told reporters.

Estrada, however, refused to say whether he will support Roxas.

“We will have to choose who is the best candidate for president… one who will serve the people and the country with determination and sincerity,” he said.

Asked if he is open to be Binay’s running mate, Estrada said he is focused on the plunder case he is facing before the Sandiganbayan.

Estrada is detained on plunder charges at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center at Camp Crame for his alleged involvement in the pork barrel fund scam. – With Michael Punongbayan, Delon Porcalla