PNoy, LP officially endorse Mar Roxas for President in 2016 elections

MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno S. Aquino III and the Liberal Party officially announced Manuel "Mar" Roxas II as standard bearer for the May 2016 presidential elections.

President Aquino finally endorsed DILG Secretary Mar Roxas for 2016 presidential elections | Photo: brigada.ph

The 'big announcement' was made on Friday morning, July 31, 2015 at the Club Filipino in San Juan City in an event called "gathering of friends" where supporters and alliance of the ruling political party in the country flocked.

Roxas' wife and ABS-CBN's broadcaster Korina Sanchez who was present in the event said he is “ready to accept the challenge.”

On her Instagram post Friday morning, she wrote: “Amidst differences, ubiquitous intrigue, power play, creeping doubts and fears, it must still and always be country above self.”


The group encouraged netizens to support '#RoxasNa' new campaign for the continuation PNoy's "Daang Matuwid" (Straight Path) advocacy.

"Mar will be more competitive now that he is an endorsed candidate," Albay Gov. Joey Salceda said to media.

'#RoxasNa' trended on social networking sites Friday as netizens expressed mixed reactions for LP's bet for presidential election.



Meanwhile, LP has no official statement yet who will be Roxas running-mate for the vice presidential bid though they are still looking for Senator Grace Poe for the position.

"Sa tingin ko eh hangga't hindi pa officially nagde-declare si Senator Poe na kakandidato sa pagkapangulo at hindi pa naman nakakakuha ng vice presidential candidate ang Liberal Party, may pag-asa pa po," Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice, political and electoral affairs chairman of the LP said.

On Thursday, Vice Pres. Jejomar Binay said Roxas is not a threat in the 2016 presidential race.

Based on the recent presidential survey, Poe is the public's top choice to be the next president with Binay trailing behind her. Roxas is lagging behind in the 3rd to 4th spot.

LP ally meanwhile claimed that ratings for Roxas will bounce after Aquino's endorsement today.

"[Kapag] anointed siya ng presidente magkakaroon iyan ng ratings bounce, nomination's kick," Albay Gov. Joey Salceda, LP's provincial chairman, told radio dzBB.

As election 2016 heats up, PNoy previously met with Roxas, Poe and Sen. Francis "Chiz" Escudero to discuss their plans for the 2016 national elections.

On his last State of the Nation Address (SONA), Aquino did not mention his presidential bet for next election but gave praise to Roxas being the interior and local government secretary.

He added that the next administration should continue to promote the same advocacy. "The next election is a referendum for the Straight and Righteous Path."

PROFILE: Who is Mar Roxas?

Mar Roxas is the son of former Senator Gerry Roxas, and the grandson of former President Manuel Roxas and industrialist J. Amado Araneta.

He was elected as Senator in the 2014 elections with 19 million votes and the highest ever garnered by a national candidate in any Philippine election and co-author of Expanded Value Added Tax Law (E-Vat).

He was defeated by Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) during his bid for vice-president in the 2010 national elections.

He is a graduate of the Wharton School, Roxas worked as an investment banker, mobilizing venture capital funds for small and medium enterprises.



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