MANILA, Philippines - The leadership of the administration bloc, Liberal Party (LP), will now choose a running mate for its standard bearer Mar Roxas in the 2016 presidential race. And it's not Sen. Grace Poe.
Senate President and LP Chair Franklin Drilon said he will ask the party's National Executive Council to nominate and approve Roxas's running mate.
"Sen. Grace Poe is already a candidate for president. The writings are on the wall. She will run. So we prepare and complete our slate for 2016, including the senators. So I will ask our acting party president, Secretary (Jun) Abaya, to convene the council," Drilon said.
With Poe out of the picture as possible running mate of the outgoing Interior and Local chief, Drilon said LP is looking at either Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos-Recto or Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo.
Both Recto and Robredo have initially declined the offer to be Roxas's running mate.
Drilon said In the Senate, Sens. Allan Cayetano and Sonny Trillanes have made themselves available but they are not LP.
"But that means we will coalesce with the other parties," Drilon said.
Drilon said he decided to abandon getting Poe in the LP lineup as she has been going around the country.
"She has been going around, making speeches to various schools and organizations. Hindi naman gagawin iyan kung hindi ka kandidato. Hindi madaling mag-ikot," Drilon said.
Drilon said the LP is also looking into creating its senatorial slate for 2016.