MANILA - An ally of defeated presidential candidate Mar Roxas believes he may run for senator in the 2019 midterm elections.

Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice on Tuesday said, ”Sa palagay ko bandang huli hindi siya makakaiwas sa tawag ng bayan.”

If he does, Erice said Roxas will run under the Liberal Party (LP) banner.

“Of course he's a very loyal and dedicated member of the LP," he said.

Erice believes Roxas is merely weighing his options.

”Well siguro baka nasa process pa siya ng pag-aaral. Siguro iniisip niya kung gusto ba siya talaga ng mamamayang Pilipino eh kung sa tingin niya naman eh hindi siya mananalo bakit siya lalaban," he said.

Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman believes Roxas will run as well.

“He’s weighing his options," he said.

Roxas lost to President Rodrigo Duterte in 2016. His running mate Leni Robredo won by a hairline over Bongbong Marcos.

Marcos has lodged an electoral protest against Robredo before the Presidential Electoral Tribunal.

Roxas, Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano, former representatives Barry Gutierrez and Lorenzo Tanada III, lawyer Jose Manuel Diokno and actress Agot Isidro are among those being floated to run under the opposition banner.