A stalwart of the National Unity Party (NUP), which is allied with
President Aquino’s Liberal Party (LP), is not just floating the
possibility but committing its all-out support for a 2016 presidential
tandem of Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas and Senator
Grace Poe.
Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga, Jr. branded as “ideal” Roxas’ team up
with Poe, even as he cited that the duo are both qualified to seek
higher office in 2016 and could implement President Aquino’s pro-people
reforms.
“Roxas-Poe ticket would be the ideal combination for 2016 national
elections. The foundations for good governance, transparency and
accountabilty which President Aquino has laid would be continued,” he
said in a text message.
Barzaga joined LP Secretary General and Samar Congressman Mel Senen
Sarmiento in pushing for Roxas-Poe tandem in the 2016 polls, believing
that the team up combines leadership, experience and expertise in
governance with mass appeal, honesty and idealism.
“There is no issue of corruption alluded to Mar Roxas who who was a
former senator, DTI and DOTC secretaryand now the head of the DILG. An
honest president with vast experience in legislative and executive work
is the kind of president which the country needs in 2016,” he said.
“Grace Poe who has always stood for the masses and has always been
vocal against the failure and abuses of government officials would
definetely be a good vice president,” he added.
Sarmiento said a Roxas-Poe team in 2016 “is really worth considering”
as they can complement each other in terms of their strengths and
weaknesses.
“Secretary Roxas has a deep experience in governance and has a proven
track record as a public servant but he seems to lack the ‘masa’ appeal
of Senator Poe,” he said.
With Poe as partner, Roxas would be more effective in reversing the
false perceptions about him as a result of relentless political
mudslinging, Sarmiento said.
Poe, on the other hand, will not have to worry about the huge
logistical requirement and the far-reaching political machinery that is
needed to run a national political campaign.
“LP and Secretary Roxas have a political machinery that extends even
to the smallest barangay and the expertise to effectively run a nation.
Sen. Poe has the charisma and the idealism to inspire unity among our
people,” he said.
Poe, a neophyte senator, maintained that she has no other commitment,
but to serve the public in her capacity as a senator even as surveys
exalt her and major political parties court her.
