Duterte-Poe in 2016?

PDP-Laban is considering fielding Davao City Rodrigo Duterte for president and Senator Grace Poe for vice president in the 2016 elections, PDP-Laban president Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III has said.

“Duterte would be president. He is not cut to be vice president. First of all, he is a tested chief executive. He is not a tested vice to somebody,” said Pimentel in a report by GMA News.

PDP-Laban cited  the long experience of Duterte as mayor of Davao City.

Poe has received invitation from other political parties to run under their banners but only as vice president despite her strong showing in the latest Social Weather Station (SWS) survey.

In that survey, Poe garnered 31 percent while Vice President Jejomar Binay had 36 percent, a statistical tie for the top spot according to the network.

On the other hand, Duterte was way below at 15 percent in a tie with DILG Secretary Mar Roxas, it said.

On President Aquino’s revelation that he had talked to Poe, the senator admitted that “the President did not say (whether the offer is for me) to run for president or vice president.”

Many in the President’s Liberal Party (LP) want Poe to be the vice presidential running mate to Roxas. LP Secretary General Mel Senen Sarmiento was among those pushing a Roxas-Poe tandem.

Sarmiento said the vice presidency would be a good training ground for Poe if and when she seeks the presidency in the future. 

LP insiders said they want Roxas to win as president in 2016 and Poe to succeed him as chief executive in 2022 so the party would have 12 solid years with which to continue the reforms started by Aquino.

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