Mar-Leni, Grace-Chiz formalize 2016 tandem
MANILA — Former Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel "Mar" Roxas II and his running mate Camarines Sur Representative Maria Leonor "Leni" Robredo on Thursday filed their certificates of candidacy for the 2016 national elections.
President Benigno Aquino III earlier endorsed Roxas as the standard-bearer of the ruling Liberal Party and will seek presidency.
Roxas, meanwhile, chose Camarines Sur Representative Maria Leonor "Leni" Robredo as his running mate in 2016 after failed talks with Senator Grace Poe.
The two, accompanied by Aquino, earlier attended Holy Mass at the Manila Cathedral near the Commission on Elections main office where they submitted their documents.
Outside the church, supporters gathered with streamers and celebrated with a Chinese traditional dragon dance.
"Naniniwala po kami na pipili ang taong bayan ng tama... Ibibigay namin ni Leni ang lahat sa laban na ito," Roxas said after filing his certificate.
The LP standard-bearer ranks second or third in the latest presidential preference polls.
Robredo, meanwhile, will be the running mate of Liberal Party standard bearer Manuel "Mar" Roxas II in the 2016 national elections.
The Camarines Sur lawmaker registered single digits in the latest vice presidential preference polls conducted by the Social Weather Stations and Pulse Asia.
Meanwhile, Senator Grace Poe and Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero on Thursday filed their certificates of candidacy for president and vice president, respectively, before the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Poe was accompanied by her mother, actress Susan Roces, while Escudero was with his wife, actress Heart Evangelista.
The independent presidential aspirant topped the latest presidential and vice presidential preference surveys of the Social Weather Stations and Pulse Asia.