ZAMBOANGA CITY – Vice President Jejomar Binay wants his rival, Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas, to be his running mate in the presidential race in 2016.
“Don’t laugh, I’m serious. Gusto ko sana si (I wish it’s) Mar Roxas,” Binay said yesterday when asked in a press conference about his possible running mate in the elections.
Binay was here with Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada to stand as principal sponsors at a wedding of a staunch supporter’s sibling. Binay said the same question was asked to him on Saturday during a national convention of lawyers.
Binay said that he has a long list of possible running mates to consider. “But number one in the list is Secretary Roxas.”
Roxas was the running mate of President Aquino and Binay’s rival for vice president in the 2010 elections. But Binay said he has still chosen Roxas because he wants to have “unity of leaders” in the country.
“That is included in my dreams when I become president. I am leaving a legacy that I was a unifying factor,” Binay said.
The Vice President, however, shrugged off survey results showing his popularity rate dwindling due to the graft cases against him and his family.
He said the survey only reflects that the allegations lodged against him and his family are all lies meant to destroy them.
“It was done with political motive and they knew it was not true,” he added.
Will Marcos run for president?
While Binay has been vocal about his desire for the presidency, Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is carefully studying whether to heed calls for him to seek the presidency that his father, the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos, held for 20 years.
“I am thinking of seeking reelection in the Senate. That is what I call my default setting. But of course, many are saying that I should run (for president), that I am capable of winning,” the senator told radio station dzMM on Saturday.
“I listen to all of them and of course, it is heartwarming that they have such strong support for me. We will study that carefully.
“I think from now until the filing (of candidacy) in October, in whatever position, I think many developments will unfold in the field of politics,” he added.
Marcos said for now, he is focused on his work as lawmaker.
Marcos ranked fifth in the latest Pulse Asia survey on preferences for the next president. He was chosen by six percent of the survey respondents, an improvement from the four percent he got last November.
Marcos was behind Binay, who topped the survey despite the corruption allegations he is facing, and Sen. Grace Poe, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Manila Mayor former President Estrada, who tied for third place, and Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago.
Marcos secured a senate seat in 2010, ranking seventh with more than 13 million votes. – With Alexis Romero