LP: No alternative standard-bearer to Roxas

Natashya Gutierrez

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LP: No alternative standard-bearer to Roxas
The ruling party is confident the survey numbers of Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II will rise, and President Aquino's endorsement value will recover in time for 2016

 

MANILA, Philippines – Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II is only ranked 6th in the latest poll on presidential preferences for 2016, but to the ruling Liberal Party (LP), there is no alternative to him.

In a text message to Rappler, Budget Secretary and LP stalwart Florencio Abad said Roxas is still the party’s choice to be standard-bearer for the elections in May next year.

“Right now, we’re just focused on Sec Mar. Right now, he appears to be the most qualified, if you’re looking for a candidate that combines integrity, competence, and experience,” Abad said.

“The challenge is how to get the voters to realize that.”

In the latest Pulse Asia survey conducted in March, Roxas was ranked 6th, with only 4% saying they would vote for him for president. Roxas has yet to declare his intention to run for the post, but Abad confirmed “of course, Sec Roxas is interested in the presidency.”

Abad also said the party is not worried about the dismal numbers.

“With 15 months to go, many things can happen. Sec Mar hasn’t declared his candidacy and PNoy hasn’t endorsed him yet,” he said, referring to President Benigno Aquino III.

The LP has long believed that Aquino’s endorsement of Roxas would be enough to pull Roxas’ numbers up and get him elected. Aquino had consistently high ratings – until the drastic drop in his approval ratings in recent months, following his perceived mishandling of the Mamasapano tragdey – his lowest since he first stepped into office.

The results of Pulse Asia’s March 2015 survey showed Aquino’s approval ratings plunging by 21 percentage points to 38% in March, from 59% in November 2014. His trust ratings are also down 20 percentage points from 56% to 36% over the same period.

The drop was caused by the botched Mamasapano operation which targeted top terrorists, and killed 44 elite cops.

Abad expressed confidence, however, that Aquino’s numbers would not stick, and his endorsement power would return.

“The current fall in the numbers of PNoy was driven by a lot of emotions. But when things settle down, I don’t think our people will define him and his administration by just one incident alone. That is especially true when people realize his term is about to end,” he said.

Abad also addressed rumors that the LP is courting Senator Grace Poe to run as Roxas’ vice president. Poe, an independent, was endorsed by the President in the 2013 senatorial polls.

She is ranked 2nd in presidential preferences, with 14% saying they would vote for the neophyte lawmaker. Poe denied that any formal offers have been made.

“I have no idea if there are talks happening,” Abad said. “But that’s a powerful and attractive combination either way.”

The Palace said Aquino is expected to announce his preferred candidate in June. Roxas has long been the presumed standard bearer, after he stepped down from the 2010 polls to give way to Aquino’s candidacy after much clamor from the public. Roxas instead ran for vice president but lost to current Vice President Jejomar Binay in a surprise come-from-behind victory.

Binay, a member of the opposition, is the leading candidate in the 2016 polls, with 29% saying they would vote for him. Binay has long declared his interest in the presidency. – Rappler.com

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Natashya Gutierrez

Natashya is President of Rappler. Among the pioneers of Rappler, she is an award-winning multimedia journalist and was also former editor-in-chief of Vice News Asia-Pacific. Gutierrez was named one of the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders for 2023.