Belmonte open to supporting non-LP presidential bet

MANILA, Philippines – While his counterpart in the Senate only has one person in mind for the 2016 presidential race, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr believes the ruling party should consider other candidates.

Asked whether he would be open to a candidate outside the Liberal Party (LP), Belmonte told reporters: “Definitely.” 

Should the candidate come from the LP, Belmonte seems to have a particular candidate in mind. Asked to give names of possible presidential bets, the Speaker, who is also LP vice chair, joked: “Belmonte!”

President Benigno Aquino III‘s revelations that he is set to choose his presidential bet has sparked speculations on who the anointed one would be.

For Senate President Drilon, the Liberal Party’s only candidate is Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II, who gave way to Aquino in 2010 due to public clamor fueled by the death of Aquino’s mother, former President Corazon Aquino. 

Belmonte said the Liberal Party must also look within its current coalition with the Nacionalista Party (NP) and the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC). 

“Actually there’s a lot of talk about consensus building. I, as Speaker of this House and also as vice chair of the LP, [I’m in charge of] not just talking about consensus within the LP, but consensus with allies, NUP (National Unity Party), NPC. It’s not just Liberal. We have to look around in the ranks of everybody. Not just in one or two groups,” he said. 

His party mates in the House have a different position. In a press conference Tuesday, November 26, Liberal Party leaders said they would prefer that the President endorses a candidate from the LP. 

Senator Grace Poe – one of the names cropping up as potential presidential bet – is not yet being considered by the LP, according to its secretary general, Western Samar 1st District Representative Mel Senen Sarmiento.

Caloocan Representative Edgardo Erice, another LP stalwart, maintained that the LP has a deep bench.

While there is no official senatorial lineup yet, Erice said some of the names being considered include re-electionist senators Franklin Drilon, Ralph Recto, and Teofisto Guingona III, agriculture adviser and former Senator Francis Pangilinan, Justice Secretary Leila del Lima, former Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, and Camarines Sur 3rd District Representative Leni Robredo. – Rappler.com