DINAGAT ISLAND – Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Manuel Roxas II would be the administration party’s candidate in the 2016 elections, Samar Rep. Mel Senen Sarmiento declared here yesterday.
According to Sarmiento, “it will just be a matter of time” that the ruling Liberal Party (LP) will make the formal announcement.
Sarmiento, LP secretary general, made the remark as he accompanied Roxas during the turnover ceremony of patrol jeeps to municipal police stations here.
Sarmiento also revealed the administration party will have an equal representation of regions, with emphasis on Mindanao.
He said Mindanao has always been the priority of the Aquino administration for development.
“In fact, in the national budget for this year, Mindanao got one of the biggest chunks of the national budget to show the present administration cares for Mindanao,” Sarmiento said.
When asked to comment on calls for Cabinet members planning to run in next year’s elections to resign their posts, Sarmiento said it would be unfair to those officials who are just doing their job.
“They have not yet filed their respective certificates of candidacy and majority of them have not even officially announced they are running in 2016, why resign when they are still doing their jobs?” he asked.
Roxas, for his part, replied that he is only doing his job as DILG secretary.
When asked who his running mate would be, Roxas replied “wala pa. (none yet).”
Roxas said the administration party has its own processes in selecting its candidates for next year’s elections.
He said candidates should adhere to President Aquino’s straight path policy of good governance.
During the turnover ceremonies of the patrol jeeps, Roxas said his only purpose is to strengthen the local police forces since they are in the frontlines of maintaining peace and order in their communities. – With Gerry Lee-Gorit
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