SEN. Grace Poe’s presidential bid will likely divide the “Daang Matuwid vote, but Gov. Hilario Davide III yesterday said Cebu is “united” behind the candidacy of Liberal Party bet Manuel “Mar” Roxas II.
“We will work hard for his victory here. Our objective is to maximize the support Secretary Roxas will get to make him win here,” he said.
Governor Davide, LP chairman in Cebu, said that since Roxas and Poe have similar platforms anchored on good governance, the voters should just look at their track records.
The tandem of Poe and Sen. Chiz Escudero is expected to run under the Nationalist People’s Coalition, backed by businessman Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco Jr.
In Cebu province, the party will also likely field former GSIS head Winston Garcia as its gubernatorial candidate.
Garcia, a brother of former governor Gwendolyn Garcia, said he has met twice with the NPC stalwarts.
With Poe out of the list of possible Roxas runningmates, Governor Davide said other potential candidates are Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, and Camarines Sur 3rd District Rep. Leni Robredo.
Davide said he would like the next vice president to be dependable, honest, have integrity, and support the good governance platform and Roxas.
“Ultimately, it will be Secretary Roxas who would choose his partner. Let us just wait,” said Davide.
Roxas has been in the administration of President Benigno Aquino III since 2010, serving as Transportation secrertary and later, as Interior secretary.
“He was really a part of the Daang Matuwid reform program of our President. He knows that he is the only one who can continue these reforms that our President has started,” the governor added.