After two candidates have publicly signified their presidential bids for 2016, the next question people are so curious to know is who UNA’s Jejomar Binay and LP’s Mar Roxas will pick for Vice President.
In the past week, talks about Binay running with Bongbong Marcos energized both the Marcos loyalists and the Binay supporters. After all, both groups are “in opposition” with the Aquino Administration. It makes sense for them to join forces to consolidate their political bases. Add to this the potential support coming from the pro-Arroyo camp, who, like the Binay and Marcos factions are also Aquino’s political nemeses.
For Mar Roxas, it seems like the hope Grace Poe for the VP option is getting dimmer, as she has challenged the supporters of Roxas to ask their candidate to be the one to slide down to VP position. Poe is the frontrunner in polls, why should she give in to Mar Roxas’ “offer” that she plays second fiddle?
This week, a group has formally called for Representative Leni Robredo to run as Mar Roxas’ VP. The LP has said that along with Grace Poe, Vilma Santos, and other unspecified candidates, the widow of former DILG Sec. Jesse Robredo is also being considered to be Roxas’ running mate.
The possibility of a Roxas-Robredo ticket seems to have energized Filipinos in America. In a recent Isyu Ngayon poll by Balitang America, the daily newscast of The Filipino Channel, the question was asked: Who should Mar Roxas pick to be his Vice President— Grace Poe or Leni Robredo?
A big majority — 68 percent — of those who voted in the online poll said Rep. Leni Robredo should run as Roxas’ VP. They point out that like her late husband Sec. Jesse Robredo, Leni is a true public servant who works for the welfare of the people and not to enrich themselves in office. Unlike many public officials, Robredo has proven to have no sense of entitlement and lives a simple and modest life. She is very much qualified since she is a lawyer herself, in addition to having legislative experience as sitting representative of Camarines Sur. They say Leni Robredo truly embodies the leader who can work with Roxas in stirring the country toward “Daang Matuwid”.
The remaining 38 percent of those who voted contend that Grace Poe as VP would not divide the people who are likely to vote for a Mar/Grace run. They also argue that Grace popularity will boost Mar’s popularity and approval rating.
Who do you think should Mar Roxas pick for VP?
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Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos
Let us remember the vice president will become president once the president dies or incapacitated. Is anyone of the two is ready? I don’t think so. Survey or being simple is not enough. Guingona, Pimentel, Trillanes or Cayetano anyone of this four is very good.