BATAAN, Philippines – Will Interior Secretary and Liberal Party president-on-leave Manuel Roxas II gun for the presidency in 2016?

His answers have been evasive and vague thus far until Thursday, May 7, when he opened up – albeit slightly – on any advantages he might have should he decide to run next year.

“Hindi po ako ang dapat magsabi noon. Kayo, mga kababayan ko, ang dapat na magsabi noon,” said Roxas when asked by a reporter about his “edge” in the 2016 elections. (I won’t be able to answer that questions. You, my fellow Filipinos, should be the ones to answer that question.)

“Mas maganda ay ‘yung nasa puso ng ating kababayan kung…gusto nilang dalhin ang bansa. Natutuwa ba sila sa nakaraang limang taon na kung saan ay napakarami nga ang ginawa at malayo na rin ang narating natin?” he said on the sidelines of his visit to Barangay Payangan, Dinalupihan, to check on a potable water project in the upland village.

(It’s better to find out what our countrymen want when it comes to which direction they want the country to take. Are they satisfied with the past 5 years of the Aquino administration where a lot of things have improved?)

President Benigno Aquino III, in a speech in Chicago, USA, made a reference to the coming elections and his possible anointed candidate for 2016.

“Hindi malilinlang ang Pilipino maski ilang araw pa silang magsinungaling, minuminutong magsinungaling. Hindi natin isusuko ang lahat ng tinatamasa nating pagbabago at hahayaang mabalik tayo sa dati…. Gaya ng lagi, nasa kamay ng Pilipino ang kapalaran ng Pilipinas…. Tiwala po ako: tulad noong 1986 sa EDSA, noong taong 2010, at pagdating ng 2016, nariyan pa rin kayo upang siguruhing maipapagpatuloy ang mga nasimulan natin,” said Aquino. 

(The Filipino cannot be fooled, no matter how often, how many days they are lied to. We will not let go of the change we are now enjoying and allow things to go back to the way they were. As is usual, the future of the country lies in the hands of the Filipino. I have faith in the Filipino: as in 1986 during EDSA, in 2010, and in 2016, you will be there to make sure we continue the change we’ve started.) 

Will he or wont he?

Roxas, who ran and lost as Aquino’s vice president in the 2010 elections, has been unable to dodge questions about a possible 2016 run from the get-go.

The interior secretary was supposed to run for president, but slid down for Aquino, eventually losing to Vice President Jejomar Binay. Binay is thus far the only candidate with the plans and the machinery to run for president in 2016. (READ: Roxas as Binay’s VP? ‘I won’t ally with the corrupt’)

Since then, Roxas has served as Aquino’s transportation secretary, and then interior and local government chief.

Recently, talk has been rife about Roxas eventually stepping down as interior secretary by June 2015 to prepare for a 2016 run.

He has denied having plans of stepping down, but Liberal Party allies have it clear that, as far as the ruling party is concerned, Roxas is the first and, perhaps, only choice.

The filing of candidacies for the 2016 elections is scheduled in October 2015.

Roxas remained vague about whether he has decided on a 2016 bid, but said he was ready to take on any role handed to him.

“Lahat naman ng mga kababayan natin ay nagnanais na ipagpatuloy itong tuwid, maayos, hayag na pamamahala na kung saan, tulad nito, ‘yung project ay nakikita, wala lang sa tarpaulin, wala lang sa talumpati, hindi lang sa papel, pero talagang may gripo, ‘pag binuksan mo may tubig. So lahat naman tayo nais na magpatuloy doon,” he added, referring to his department’s Sagana at Ligtas na Tubig sa Lahat Program, which creates potable water systems to far-flung areas in the country. 

(Everyone wants to continue the straight, clean, and transparent form of government. This project, for instance, you see it materialize. It isn’t just in tarpaulins, speeches, and pieces of paper. You see an actual faucet and clean water comes out of it. Everyone wants this to continue.)

Roxas’ showing in 2016 election surveys has been disappointing. Other politicians, those not necessarily affiliated with the ruling party, are faring much better, including newbie Senator Grace Poe and Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

But the ruling party believes Roxas will have what it takes to win the presidency, and expects his numbers to go up in the next few months if and when he gets Aquino’s endorsement. – Rappler.com