De Lima, health secretary, MMDA chief among LP senatorial prospects
At least three Cabinet secretaries are part of the shortlist for the Liberal Party’s (LP) senatorial slate in next year’s elections.
LP standard bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II said in a ‘People’s Dialogue’ in Cebu City that the contenders for the administration’s senatorial line up are Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Health Secretary Janette Garin, and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Francis Tolentino.
“Secretary Leila, Secretary Francis, and Secretary Janet are all very qualified. They have shown very good service and dedication, and have been faithful to our thrust of daang matuwid (straight path). Certainly, they would be among those in consideration (for LP’s senatorial lineup),” he said.
Roxas and six Cabinet secretaries were in Cebu City to attend the People’s Dialogue at the Cebu Normal University that was attended by 200 representatives of different government agencies and the public.
Wearing the party’s famous yellow and black polo shirts, Roxas and each of the Cabinet secretaries addressed the audience and encouraged them to shun “corruption” and continue what President Benigno Aquino III has begun.
“We need to protect the gains of the administration. There are those who want to return to that dark and dusty road in the past. Why? In that system, they are famous, and they could easily show-off. That’s the trapo-style of governance,” Roxas told the audience without mentioning names.
He also criticized those who want to seek a government position just for the sake of doing so.
“There are also those who want to govern although without any clear plan. They do not have a definite outlook or programs for our country. In short, mamamasyal lang,” Roxas said.
“On the other hand, we have definite plans and clear ways on how we can achieve a bright tomorrow. You, our people, are proof that we have slowly heading into that bright future we all long for,” he said.
When asked during the interview about the perception that he and the Cabinet secretaries are politicizing the dialogue, Roxas said “Pamumulitika kon kasinungalingan. Pero lahat naman ng sinabi dito ay totoo (It’s politics when it is lies. But everything that had been said here is true).”
De Lima was tight-lipped regarding her plans in the 2014 elections. “There’s a proper time for an announcement. Not now,” he told reporters as she boarded a van.
She said she went with Roxas to Cebu City in support of the government’s policy.
“You know the justice sector needs to boast of what this Daang Matuwid has done. And I’m the ideal representative to do that,” she said.
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