Itical issues a ait t e ne t esident alceda

LEGAZPI CITY – Albay Governor Joey Salceda said whoever wins in the 2016 presidential elections will face critical issues, specifically China’s bullying, aggravating the dispute over territories in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

“Our country is on the crossroad with local and international issues. The next elected President should deal persistently on West Philippine Sea – which is a very critical issue, the senior high school, attainment of sustainable development goals and other concerns that need to look into,” Salceda, the Liberal Party provincial chair in Albay said.

There are about 130 presidential aspirants but five are considered serious candidates for president.

Salceda is an economist running for congress in the second district of Albay under the Liberal Party.

He denied reports that LP members in the Visayas and Mindanao regions had bolted the administration party. He admitted though that some had jumped ship the past few months.

“That happens when survey ranking is stagnant even though competitive. In Mindanao, it is an enigma because we expected that Mayor Rodrigo Duterte would declare, but he did not,” Salceda said.

Mindanao is the bailiwick of Duterte, the outgoing Albay governor acknowledged. Duterte openly declared he was not supporting LP standard bearer Mar Roxas after taking his camp responsible for the smear campaign against him at a time when supporters were egging him to run for president.

Salceda said Roxas will continue to emerge as competitive among the presidential contenders.

“Six months is a long time in a presidential election with 54 million voters,” the Albay governor said.

Recent presidential surveys show neophyte Sen. Grace Poe-Llamanzares in the lead while Roxas and Vice President Jejomar Binay are statistically tied in second place. (PNA)