Interior Secretary Mar Roxas. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
President Benigno Aquino III is poised to formally anoint Interior Secretary Mar Roxas as his chosen successor on Friday at the historic Club Filipino in San Juan City, Western Samar Rep. Mel Senen Sarmiento, secretary general of the ruling Liberal Party (LP), said Wednesday.
Sarmiento said in a text message that Roxas would be officially named the LP standard-bearer at 9 a.m. on Friday, coinciding with the birthday of Roxas鈥� mother, Judy Araneta Roxas, and the feast day of St. Ignatius.
Albay Gov. Joey Salceda, an LP stalwart, also confirmed the 鈥渁nointment鈥� of Roxas. He said he had received a telephone call from Roxas telling him that Mr. Aquino had 鈥済iven the go signal,鈥� or would anoint him the party standard-bearer.
He said there was no word yet on who would be Roxas鈥� running mate. 鈥淥f course, I am still hoping that Grace Poe will agree to be VP,鈥� he said.
But party members said no announcement would be made about Roxas鈥� running mate or who would comprise his senatorial slate next year.
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be a simple affair, but everyone will be there, not only government officials,鈥� said Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice, LP political affairs chair.
鈥淭here will be no announcements for Vice President or the senatorial lineup,鈥� he added.
Leni Robredo
One of the names under consideration as Roxas鈥� running mate, Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo, said she was asked by colleagues to attend the event at Club Filipino at 10 a.m.
She laughed off talk that she might be tapped by the LP to run for Vice President, saying 鈥渢hat seems to be beyond my reach.鈥�
鈥淚f in the [senatorial preference surveys], I鈥檓 only in the 21-22 rank, what more when [the fight] is one-on-one?鈥� Robredo said in a phone interview.
Robredo, the widow of the late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, whom Roxas succeeded, said her late husband had full trust in Roxas, which was why she felt she owed it to his memory to support him.
She said Roxas last talked to her in early July about the possibility of her running for the Senate.
鈥淚 told him I was open to it, but I couldn鈥檛 decide at that point, because I have to make sure our candidate would win in my district, so that the gains we made there would not be lost,鈥� Robredo said.
Formal declaration
Erice said another event would be scheduled next week for the formal declaration of support of governors and congressmen for Roxas.
Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said he was not aware of the schedule, but he would be there 鈥渇or sure.鈥�
鈥淸Roxas is] the most qualified person for the presidency,鈥� he said in a text message.
Belmonte said Roxas checked all the boxes in terms of 鈥渁chievement, track record, qualifications, and integrity.鈥�
Sarmiento said the Friday meeting would be 鈥渢o discuss important party matters.鈥�
But he added that was not in any position to discuss the specific agenda of the LP meeting, and Mr. Aquino鈥檚 expected attendance.
鈥淚 can only confirm that there will be a big LP meeting on Friday. As to what it is all about and what is going to be the agenda can be best answered by the LP leadership during the meeting. The media is welcome to cover the event,鈥� Sarmiento said.
听
To resign from Cabinet
Salceda said Roxas would resign from the Cabinet to concentrate on his campaign and party building. Following the endorsement, Roxas would have a series of meetings with LP members, governors and civil society groups, the governor said. With reports from Mar S. Arguelles, Delfin Mallari Jr., Michael B. Jaucian, Romulo Ponte, Juan Escandor Jr. and Madonna T. Virola, Inquirer Southern Luzon
Originally posted as of 3:02 PM |Wednesday, July 29, 2015
RELATED STORIES
LP allies sure Aquino will endorse Roxas
Leni Robredo not keen as Roxas鈥� VP