MANILA, Philippines – Allies senators Grace Poe and Francis “Chiz” Escudero said there would be no face-off between them in the 2016 presidential elections. 

Escudero, a vice presidential aspirant, said he would give way to Poe if she decides to run for that same position.

Talks of a possible Poe vice presidential bid became louder as members of the ruling Liberal Party repeatedly announced their desire for Poe to be the running mate of LP standard-bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II.

Escudero, Poe’s friend and strongest political ally, has already announced his intention to run as Poe’s vice president. He quit as chairman of the powerful Senate finance committee that scrutinizes national budget, out of “delizadeza.”

“Hindi kami magkakalaban ni Senator Poe sa kahit anong p’westo. Hindi kami magkakalaban ni Senator Poe kahit ano’ng mangyari,” Escudero told reporters on Tuesday, August 4.

(Senator Poe and I will not go against each other for any position in 2016. We will not run against each other whatever happens.)

Poe, in a separate interview hours earlier, said the same thing and insisted that public service is greater than any friendship. 

“Of course you have to do what you have to do for the country. It’s not necessarily what’s expected from, let’s say, your friends. But you have to make decisions that are difficult,” Poe said. 

No pressure

Now that there seems to be an agreement between Poe and Escudero on her possible vice presidential bid, would she run as Roxas’ vice president?

Poe said she has yet to decide on her political plans and said she is not pressured by the incessant public pronouncements of LP members for her to run with Roxas. 

“Siguro sasagutin ko ‘yan kung mayroon nang imbitasyon. Wala naman talagang imbitasyon. Naririnig ko sa media pero ‘yun lamang,” Poe said.

(I think I will answer that when there is an invitation. There is no actual invitation for that. I only hear it in media.)

Poe and Aquino met several times but failed to reach an agreement. Although it was never explicitly said to her, Poe earlier admitted in an interview she felt Aquino wants her to be Roxas’ running mate.

Aquino, in his endorsement speech for Roxas, alluded to Poe’s inexperience in government service.

Despite this, LP is still keen on getting Poe as its vice presidential candidate.

Roxas himself said in a chance interview on August 1 that the neophyte senator was still part of his shortlist for vice president. Poe is leading in recent presidential preference surveys. A Roxas-Poe tandem, LP members say, will be a dream ticket for 2016. – Rappler.com