IMUS, CAVITE—The ruling Liberal Party on Thursday vowed to remain behind Manuel Roxas II even as some party members are expected to bolt the administration coalition to support Senator Grace Poe, whom the Supreme Court allowed to run for president in the May 9 elections.
“Remarkably, many still believe in the straight path. In fact, we are intact,” Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya, the ruling Liberal Party’s president, told reporters.
“The Supreme Court decision is just establishing who are the official candidates.”
Abaya made his statement even as Roxas warned Filipinos to think twice about voting for corrupt officials in the coming elections.
Roxas made his warning after slamming Vice President Jejomar Binay following a Commission on Audit report pointing to Binay as the one liable for the allegedly bloated cost of the Makati City Parking Building II.
“What [Binay] has done to Makati is a clear example of what kind of leadership happened to Makati,” Roxas said.
On Wednesday, Poe claimed that many allies of the administration party were just waiting for the Supreme Court to resolve her disqualification cases before declaring their support for her.
Poe enjoys the support of the second-largest political party, the Nationalist People’s Coalition.
Roxas on Wednesday said the political butterflies within the administration coalition should now go to the rival camps rather than stab him in the back.
Abaya said Thursday the administration coalition was now more concerned with securing the ground machinery, one thing that would matter in translating votes for Roxas on election day.
“What we are doing is breaking away from the neck-and-neck fight. Everyone is plateauing within a band, so we are looking at our messaging,” Abaya said.
In the latest Pulse Asia survey conducted from Feb. 16 to 27, Roxas landed in fourth spot with 19 percent, behind Senator Poe and Vice President Jejomar Binay who shared their lead with 26 percent and 24 percent, respectively.
At third spot in the presidential survey was Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte with 22 percent.