Mar to remain LP standard bearer, says Drilon
MANILA – Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas II will remain as the Liberal Party’s (LP) presidential candidate in 2010 elections, said former senator Franklin Drilon.
“Tama po iyan si Mar Roxas ang aming standard bearer,” Drilon, national chairman of the second oldest political party in the Philippines, told radio dzMM.
Drilon made the statement amid talk that several groups have been urging Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III to run for president in 2010.
Drilon admitted that some party members and other groups have been pushing for an Aquino-Roxas tandem following the death of Aquino's mother, former president Corazon Aquino.
Although nothing is final yet, he said he believes Roxas will remain LP’s standard bearer. For Drilon, the Roxas-Aquino tandem is as good as certain.
“Unang-una, hindi pa nagpasiya si senator ‘Noy at kung sakali man damdam ko, tatakbo [siya] ng vice-president,” he said.
When asked though about Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan’s vice-presidential bid, Drilon said: “Kung sakali mag-decide si Noy, pag-uusapan pa nang husto.”
Pangilinan has reportedly taken a leave from the LP.