No VP offer from LP – Grace

MANILA, Philippines - Amid the buzz over her supposedly being eyed as Liberal Party vice presidential candidate in 2016, Sen. Grace Poe said nobody from the party has actually offered her the slot.

She said all the talk regarding her being considered as running mate of Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II has been played up only in the media and that there is no official word yet from LP on what really is its plan for her.

“These are all being mentioned in media but the truth is no one has gotten in touch with me from their (LP) leadership. I have not talked to anyone from their side,” Poe said in an interview over dwIZ.

Poe said she hasn’t decided yet whether to run for higher office in May 2016.

Poe said she has spoken on numerous occasions to Roxas but the latter has never asked her to be his running mate.

The lady senator has been at the center of discussions regarding next year’s elections since dislodging Vice President Jejomar Binay from the top stop in surveys among possible presidential candidates for 2016.

Poe has also been going around the country with long-time friend Sen. Francis Escudero, in what many see as their way of testing the waters.

Escudero has indicated his readiness to run for vice president in tandem with Poe. Poe herself has repeatedly aired her preference to have Escudero as her running mate if ever she decides to push through with her bid for the presidency.

Both senators ran as independent in the 2013 senatorial election and have opted to remain as such in the coming elections.

Poe said her preferred running mate – if ever she decides to throw her hat in the ring – should be someone she can trust and with good track record in public service.

She said Escudero has shown strong conviction and has performed very well in the Senate.

‘Unripe’ not that bad

She also said being “unripe” – as some critics would like to portray her – is not always a disadvantage for an aspiring public servant-leader.

In endorsing Roxas as LP’s standard-bearer, President Aquino emphasized his being “ripe” for the job, having served in various capacities in government for a long period of time.

“The ideal situation is for those who still need experience to have the opportunity to have their skills and talents fully develop, and to understand all that is required of a leader,” Aquino said in announcing his anointment of the DILG chief at the Club Filipino in San Juan last Friday.