Mar Roxas, Leni Robredo formalize 2016 tandem

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATE 2 at 9:55 a.m.) — Former Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel "Mar" Roxas II and his running mate Camarines Sur Rep. Maria Leonor "Leni" Robredo on Thursday filed their certificates of candidacy for the 2016 national elections.

President Benigno Aquino III earlier endorsed Roxas as the standard-bearer of the ruling Liberal Party and will seek presidency.

Roxas, meanwhile, chose Camarines Sur Rep. Maria Leonor "Leni" Robredo as his running mate in 2016 after failed talks with Sen. Grace Poe.

The two, accompanied by Aquino, earlier attended Holy Mass at the Manila Cathedral near the Commission on Elections main office where they submitted their documents.

"Kami po ni Leni ay nagtitiwala po na ang ating mga kababayan ay pipili ng tama," Mar Roxas says after filing his certificate of candidacy for president. Philstar.com/Jonathan Asuncion

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Outside the church, supporters gathered with streamers and celebrated with a Chinese traditional dragon dance.

"Naniniwala po kami na pipili ang taong bayan ng tama... Ibibigay namin ni Leni ang lahat sa laban na ito," Roxas said after filing his certificate.

The LP standard-bearer ranks second or third in the latest presidential preference polls.

Robredo, meanwhile, will be the running mate of Liberal Party standard bearer Manuel "Mar" Roxas II in the 2016 national elections.

The Camarines Sur lawmaker registered single digits in the latest vice presidential preference polls conducted by the Social Weather Stations and Pulse Asia.

— Video by Efigenio Toledo IV