Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III (L Front) shakes hands with Manuel Roxas II, interior and local government secretary, during the Liberal Party gathering in San Juan City, Metro Manila, July 31, 2015. Benigno S. Aquino III formally endorsed Friday Manuel Roxas II as the Liberal Party's presidential candidate for the 2016 elections. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali)
MANILA, July 31 (Xinhua) -- Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III formally endorsed Friday Manuel Roxas II, Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), as his presidential bet for the 2016 elections.
Aquino, in a speech, said he chose Roxas because he believes that his Cabinet official, who belongs to the ruling Liberal Party, would certainly continue the "straight path."
"To my Bosses (Filipino people), I tell you today, in my opinion, the one who has shown exemplary work and true integrity, the one fully ready to continue the straight path, is none other than Mar Roxas," he said.
Roxas, accepting the endorsement of the president, said he would not waste the trust and vowed to continue the reforms that the Aquino administration has started.
Roxas was Aquino's running mate in the 2010 elections. He was defeated by current Vice President Jejomar Binay, the presumptive presidential candidate of the opposition United Nationalist Alliance in next year's polls.
The DILG chief also served as Trade Secretary during the initial part of the previous administration and he later became a senator.
