Poe for VP? Palace says PNoy to base his 2016 picks on LP processes

Will President Benigno Aquino III annoint Senator Grace Poe as the administration's bet for vice president in 2016?

Aquino's spokesman, Secretary Edwin Lacierda, said Friday that the President will base his picks for the coming national elections on the processes of the ruling Liberal Party (LP).

"Eventually, it will be the President being the leader of the LP who would be making a decision based on the processes of the LP," Lacierda told reporters at a press briefing.

The Palace official added that Aquino, who chairs the LP, has not been very vocal so far about his preferred candidates for the 2016 elections.

"That’s going to be a litany of questions that will remain unanswered until the President decides to come forward and mention his preference," Lacierda said, when asked if Aquino already has a shorlist of his presidential and vice presidential picks.

Earlier this week, Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice, LP's chairman for political affairs, said the ruling party is eyeing Poe as vice-presidential bet for the 2016 polls.

On Thursday, Aquino did not give a categorical answer when asked if Poe will be his choice for next vice president.

Poe is an independent senator who ran under the administration coalition during the 2013 elections. She is the daughter of the late movie icon Fernando Poe Jr., who was the opposition's standard-bearer in the 2004 elections.

Erice said Poe, who topped the senatorial race during the midterm polls, is likely to be teamed up with LP's prospective standard-bearer, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas.

The opposition United Nationalist Alliance is also considering Poe as its vice-presidential bet with Vice President Jejomar Binay as its standard-bearer. —Andreo Calonzo/KBK, GMA News