LP's Erice still not giving up on getting Poe as Roxas' VP candidate

Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice, Liberal Party vice chair for political affairs, has not given up hope that Sen. Grace Poe will agree to become Interior Secretary Mar Roxas' running mate despite reports she will declare her candidacy for president in mid-September.

 

Erice said there are still 15 days left to convince Poe to run as LP's vice presidential candidate.

 

“Malay natin baka magbago pa ang isip [ni Sen. Poe] hanggang (Sept.) 16,” he said.

 

A Philippine Daily Inquirer report last week quoted sources within Poe's camp as saying that she is scheduled to announce her presidential bid on either Sept. 15 or 16, or days after the "Ghost Month" in the Chinese lunar calendar ends on Sept. 12.

 

The report said Poe will announce her candidacy for president at Club Filipino in San Juan City, the same venue where President Benigno Aquino III endorsed Roxas as LP standard-bearer.

 

Should LP fail to convince Poe to become Roxas' running mate, Erice said the party will continue searching for someone who is "better" or "more perfect."

'Maghanap tayo ng mas perfect'

 

“Maghanap tayo ng mas perfect o kaya makahanap tayo ng mas magaling. Kaya naman naming makakuha ng equally qualified [na running mate na may] equal chance of winning [as Sen. Poe]," he said.

 

Some LP stalwarts have floated the name of Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo as a possible alternative to Poe as vice-presidential bet but she has thumbed down the prospect, saying she is not ready for the position.

 

House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. also suggested Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano as Roxas' possible running mate if talks with Poe collapse.

 

But Cayetano, a member of the Nacionalista Party and who has hinted at running for president himself, denied there are ongoing talks for him to be the administration's vice presidential bet.
— Xianne Arcangel/JDS, GMA News