LP defers announcement of VP, Senate bets

MANILA, Philippines - The Liberal Party (LP) has deferred for Monday the announcement of its vice presidential candidate as well as the 12 members of its senatorial slate.

The ruling party was supposed to announce today the running mate of standard bearer Manuel Roxas II as well as its senatorial ticket at the joint meeting of its National Directorate and National Executive Council at its headquarters in Quezon City, to be presided over by President Aquino.

“The formal announcement of the LP presidential, vice presidential candidates and Senate slate will be on Monday,” Occidental Mindoro Rep. Josephine Sato, LP secretary general, said in a brief statement.

She said Aquino’s meeting with top LP leaders would definitely push through today in compliance with the party’s constitution and by-laws, as well as with the guidelines set by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for the holding of political conventions.

LP stalwarts admitted they have yet to finalize the party’s senatorial slate, or make a decision on who to field as Roxas’ running mate.

They said Aquino’s choices would weigh heavily on the party’s final decision.

“It will be a working convention. We hope to resolve all issues by tomorrow (Sept. 30). Maybe by next week, we will be ready to present the slate. Most of the members of the coalition want to present a complete slate,” LP stalwart and Budget Secretary Florencio Abad told reporters on the sidelines of the Liga ng mga Barangay convention yesterday in Pasay City.

“This is not just a coalition of convenience. The battle cry of the coalition is continue the straight path. You want to make sure you are consistent with your message,” he added.

When asked if an announcement would be made during the meeting, Abad said: “We don’t know if the negotiations will be completed.”

“The first order of the day is to sort out within the party who are running and after that we look to our partners,” the budget chief added.

“We are after formality and legality and the result of the meeting will be known on Monday,” Roxas said in Filipino, also at the Liga ng mga Barangay event.

“Comelec has requirements and we need to comply with them as a formal political party,” he added.

Roxas clarified that the postponement does not mean that the administration coalition is having difficulty coming up with a lineup.

When asked if he is confident that the coalition can complete its lineup by Monday, Roxas said: “Yes, and may I note, yes with a smile.”

Conspicuously displayed on Roxas’ shirt was a yellow slipper pin. Jesse Robredo, the late husband of Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo, when he was Naga City mayor, would usually show up in public in a pair of slippers.

Roxas clarified the pin was given to him by a Liga ng mga Barangay member from Naga.

“We exchanged pins. I gave the delegate a yellow ribbon that I usually wear and the delegate gave me this slipper that symbolizes the good governance and leadership of Sec. Jesse. I’m happy to wear it,” he said.

Robredo was also invited to the convention but begged off as she was not feeling well.

Leni or Alan?

Robredo is heavily favored by Aquino and other party stalwarts to be Roxas’ running mate, while a large faction in the party is pushing for Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, who declared yesterday his intention to run for vice president.

Aquino, however, is believed to harbor a deep dislike for Cayetano, who reportedly slighted him during the 2010 campaign.

“He (Aquino) cannot forget that,” an LP lawmaker said. Aquino, however, met with Cayetano several days ago but no details of the meeting were released.

The LP also had tried to court Sen. Grace Poe, but was rejected last month when she declared her own presidential bid, with Sen. Francis Escudero as her running mate.

Robredo told reporters Monday night she remained undecided on LP’s offer because her three daughters don’t want her to run for vice president.

“They lost their father, and I suddenly became a politician, and this (vice presidential) is another sudden and big leap, so this is too much for them,” Robredo said.

She said a leader cannot serve well if his or her family situation is problematic.

She said she has not yet relayed her final decision to Aquino, even as she admitted feeling pressure from party officials to accede to their request in time for today’s LP meeting.

“I think it’s not fair if I can’t say ‘no’ to the President, after all it’s my choice,” Robredo said when asked if she can say no to Aquino.

But she said she can still consider the offer after all if given more time, or if in her prayers it “will be shown what is meant for me.” 

It was the same position she voiced out in Bauang, La Union over the weekend during a Department of Health event where she was guest.

“It’s either a second term in Congress or (I will) try my luck in the Senate… that’s really my open option. I am seeing an encouraging SWS survey that I jumped higher from where I placed, 23rd to 11th or 12th already,” she said, referring to the latest survey of the Social Weather Stations.

A divided LP

Iloilo Rep. Jerry Treñas, a party stalwart, admitted to reporters yesterday that the LP is torn between Robredo and Cayetano.

“The LP is divided at the moment,” he said. Treñas maintained that Cayetano has always been an option for the LP.

Roxas had earlier told reporters that it was likely only LP members would be formally nominated to the party’s Senate slate at today’s meet.

“Although the party has offered the slot to Leni, Alan is a strong candidate to be the running mate of our standard-bearer, Mar Roxas,” Treñas said.

“There is a strong lobby from a lot of members to draft Alan for VP. As of now, we are divided between Leni and Alan,” he told a news conference.

He said since the LP has offered Robredo to be the party’s vice presidential candidate, the slot would not be offered to Cayetano unless the Camarines Sur congresswoman rejects the offer.  With Jess Diaz, Alexis Romero,Vic Alhambra Jr., Danny Dangcalan