President Aquino intends to announce his choice for the administration standard bearer after his State of the Nation address in July. This is much later than the previously reported June deadline.
For now, Aquino said, consultations are being conducted to reach a “consensus” on this matter, although he said Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas is leading the list of potential presidential candidates of the administration coalition.
The President said Roxas has shown “a wide range of expertise” in many assignments, citing him as a “valuable member of the Cabinet” and a “staunch leader” of the Liberal Party.
Aquino, chairman of the ruling Liberal Party, also lauded Roxas’ “ability to sacrifice” when he slid down to become his running mate in 2010.
MANILA BULLETIN
