NAGA CITY, Philippines – “Let me make it clear. I do not know Rizalito David nor do I remember meeting him. I have nothing to do with whatever case is being filed against Senator Grace Poe.”  

Administration standard-bearer Manuel Roxas II on Tuesday, August 18, dismissed any speculation that it was him – or the ruling Liberal Party (LP) – that was behind moves to question presidential preference survey frontrunner Senator Grace Poe’s residency or citizenship

The interior chief made the pronouncement two days after he met with Poe and a day after details of the meeting were made public by the senator herself. 

Roxas, who was endorsed by President Benigno Aquino III on July 31, has been trying to convince Poe to run as his vice president come 2016. The wooing of Poe isn’t just a matter of boosting Roxas’ survey numbers or elimination competition. 

A broad LP-led coalition is in danger of crumbling come 2016. The Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), in particular, may break apart should Poe decide to run for president. Some members of the party are also inclined to support other candidates such as Davao mayor Rodrigo Duterte and opposition standard-bearer Vice President Jejomar Binay. 

Poe and Roxas held their first post-endorsement meeting on Sunday, August 16, or almost a week after Roxas said during a morning show that he wanted Poe to be his running mate. Roxas had earlier invited Poe join the ruling coalition come 2016, but this was before he officially announced his 2016 plans and before Aquino’s endorsement. 

Attacks from the back 

On Monday, August 17, Roxas was coy about the details of the meeting, insisting that those be kept between himself and the neophyte senator. But Poe, speaking to media in a separate chance interview, revealed that she had confronted Roxas about the alleged “backstabbing” of some LP members. 

“Sinabi ko rin sa kanya, ‘Alam ‘nyo Secretary, ‘pag nag-uusap tayo, diretsahan tayo mag-usap, pero may mga tao kayo na talagang tinitira ako sa likod.’ Handa naman kami sa legalidad dito, pero hangga’t sinusuyo ako, pero kabaliktaran naman ang ginagawa, ano ba naman ‘yun?” Poe said on Monday. (I also told him, ‘You know what Secretary, when we talk, we are upfront with each other. But you have people that really stab me at the back.’ We are prepared for the legalities, but they are wooing me, but they do the opposite, what’s that?)

Asked to comment on Tuesday, Roxas said: “Gusto ko sanang galangin ang confidentiality na pinagkasunduan namin na hindi magsasalita tungkol sa mga detalye. Gayunpaman, siya ang nagbukas sa topic. Noong na take up niya ito na may mga iilan sa kanyang information na tumitira sa kanya or nag-cricriticize sa kanya ang aking sagot naman doon, handa naman ako na ipagharap sila or ipagharap kung sino man ang mga taong ito para mabura itong mga pagdududang ito.”

(I want to respect the confidentiality agreement we made but since she already opened the topic. She took this up, telling me that she received information that people from the LP are attacking or criticizing her. I told her that I’m ready to find out who’s accountable and present them to Poe so they can talk it out to eliminate these doubts.) 

LP stalwarts, in various interviews, have downplayed Poe’s fitness for the presidency, citing her inexperience. No less than the President himself made allusions to “unripe” candidates when he endorsed Roxas. 

Asked if he has taken this up with his allies in the LP, Roxas said that although he has yet to speak to them since his Sunday meeting with Poe, running a “clean” campaign was and is his priority. 

“Ako, naniniwala ako na the way you run is the way that you govern. Tumakbo tayo sa maayos na paraan, sa matatag na paraan, sa malinis na paraan at yun din ang paraan sa ating panunungkulan kung sakaling manalo tayo so yun rin ang ating prinsipyo sa kampanya,” added Roxas. 

(I believe that the way you run is the way you government. I ran in a proper, principled, and fair manner and that’s how I plan to govern should I win. That’ll also be our guiding principle during the campaign.) 

The chase 

The wooing of Poe by the LP has been one of the more public courtships in the months leading up to the 2016 elections. Aquino led talks with Poe, but these ended in a stalemate. Roxas’ last meeting with Poe also included the senator’s husband, Neil Llamanzares. 

If Roxas and the LP are to be believed, Poe remains their top choice for the VP post. Poe, however, seems already set – and prepared – to run for president.

But in her meeting with Roxas, Poe insisted she was not yet ready to make a decision. 

How long is Roxas willing to wait? He did not give an exact timeframe but said that he has a “responsibility” – to the coalition, Aquino, and “believers” of the “Daang Matuwid” – to form a strong ticket. – Rappler.com