LP confident admin bets will remain loyal to 'Tuwid na Daan'

MANILA, Philippines - Liberal Party (LP) standard bearer Manuel Roxas II is confident that members of his senatorial slate will remain loyal to the administration coalition even if they are adopted by other parties.

Roxas said it is clear to members of the administration’s senatorial ticket that they are supposed to support President Aquino’s straight path policy.

“It is clear to them that they are pushing for the straight path and the tandem endorsed by the president,” Roxas said, referring to himself and vice presidential candidate Camarines Sur Rep. Maria Leonor Robredo.

“We cannot prevent other groups from adopting some of our candidates. If other groups want to support them, why not but it is clear that they are part of Team Daang Matuwid,” he added.

Roxas said the credibility of a senatorial candidate would be affected if he joins the sorties of rival groups.

“What will happen to their credibility? Who are they endorsing? Whom do they trust? Who do they think should govern the country? I think the candidates themselves will avoid standing on different stages,” the LP presidential bet said.

Roxas does not see a need to remind his senatorial candidates to stick to the administration coalition.

“They have common sense and aside from that, their loyalty to the straight path is something we are confident of,” he said.

At least two members of the administration coalition’s senatorial slate - Sen. Ralph Recto and former Sen. Panfilo Lacson – are reportedly being considered by other parties as adopted candidates.

Lacson, a guest candidate of the administration coalition, is also in the line-up of the United Nationalist Alliance led by Vice President Jejomar Binay and the group of Sen. Grace Poe.

Recto, meanwhile, is reportedly being eyed as a guest candidate of Poe’s coalition.

The presence of common candidates has been attributed to the failure of some political parties to form a complete senatorial ticket.