Drilon: Mar Roxas interested in being LP standard bearer in 2016

Interior Secretary Mar Roxas wants to be the next president of the Philippines, Senate President Franklin Drilon said Sunday.

 

Calling Interior Secretary Mar Roxas the Liberal Party’s “presumptive candidate,” Drilon, one of the vice chairmen of the administration Liberal Party, on Sunday revealed that Roxas has expressed his desire to run under the LP banner.

 

“Nag-express na po ng interest si [Secretary] Mar. Siya ang aming presumptive candidate,” Drilon told GMA’s dzBB.

 

“Si Mar po ang aming kandidato sa Partido Liberal, wala pong alternative,” he added. 

 

Drilon said he envisions Roxas, who has yet to formally announce his plans to run in 2016, as the face of the LP.

 

“Tinitingnan namin, [siya] ang puwede iharap sa taumbayan,” Drilon said, adding that he feels Roxas will be able to continue the reform agenda set by the Aquino administration.

 

“Kailangan ipagpatuloy mga mahusay na policy ng current admin, para patuloy ang pag-unlad ng ekonomiya,” he said.

 

A former senator and LP president, Roxas gave way to President Benigno Aquino III in the 2010 elections. Roxas then ran, and lost, as Aquino’s running mate.

 

In an interview with the Agence France-Presse, Aquino said he could reveal his chosen successor as early as June. 

 

Roxas has not done well in surveys, consistently ranking below Vice President Jejomar Binay, who has been clear about his intentions to run for the country’s top post, and Sen. Grace Poe, who has yet to make any announcements regarding future political aspirations. — Patricia Denise Chiu/JDS, GMA News