Aquino and Poe hold final meeting before SONA

President Benigno Aquino III met one-on-one with Senator Grace Poe for 5 hours on Monday, but failed to reach an agreement. In a statement Monday night, Poe hinted at a parting of ways. “In the end, we both agreed to continue, in whatever capacity, striving and working for our countrymen and for the betterment of our children’s future.” The President spent months choosing between Poe and Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II to be the standard-bearer of the ruling Liberal Party which Aquino himself heads. The LP’s position is for Poe to run as Roxas’ running mate. But Poe’s supporters within the ruling coalition balked at the idea, citing her survey numbers. Roxas is lagging behind Poe and Vice President Jejomar Binay in presidential preference surveys.

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