Transcript of Interview of Senate President Franklin M. Drilon

SPFMD: I will ask the LP National Executive Council (NECO) to convene as soon as possible in order to nominate and approve our vice presidential candidate for 2016 s runningmate of Sec. Mar Roxas. In my view, Sen. Grace Poe is already a candidate for president. The writings are on the wall. She will run. So we prepare and complete our slate for 2016, including the senators. So I will ask our acting party president Secretary Abaya to convene the council.

Q: Any names in mind for VP?

SPFMD: Gov. Vilma Santos is a viable candidate, Cong. Leni Robredo. In the Senate, Senators Allan Cayetano and Sonny Trillanes, who have made themselves available. Insofar as the last two gentlemen, that would necessitate a coalition with the LP. They cannot possibly nominate them because they are not LP. But that means we will coalesce with the other parties.

Q: Before, ang inyong sinabi ay ipapaubaya  kay Sec. Roxas yung pagpili, bakit nabago?

SPFMD: Sa akin, dahilan sa lumalapit na yung deadline. Siguro dapat tulungan na namin si Sec. Roxas para mabuo ang ticket. Sang-ayon sa aming constitution sa LP, ang NECO ang mag-nominate. Of course, we will consult Sec. Roxas.

Q: Is Sec. De lima being considered as one of the candidates for VP also?

SPFMD: As far as I know, she is a candidate for the Senate.

Q: Your choices are limited to those four you mentioned?

SPFMD: There are other names. That’s just an initial thought. But ang importante ay si Sen. Poe, sa tingin ko, ay kandidato na sa pagkapangulo.

Q: Stop na?

SPFMD: Stop na.

Q: Si senator AllaN, kono-consider ba?

SPFMD: Sinabi ko kung magka-coalition kami sa LP, certainly hindi lang si Senator Alla, pati si Sen. Trillanes.

Q: May deadline ba?

SPFMD: Ang deadline is October. We will consult our party leaders as to when is the appropriate time.

Q: What convinced you that Poe is running?

SPFMD: Unang-una, she has been going around, making speeches to various schools and organizations. Hindi naman gagawin iyan kung hindi ka kandidato. Hindi madaling mag-ikot.

Q: May sinabi po ba siya sa inyo?

SPFMD: Wala siyang sinabi, in fairness.

Q: Na-inform na po si PNOy about this?

SPFMD: Hindi pa. I’m just talking in accordance with our LP constitution.

Q: Yung move ninyo na iyan ay because you’re running out of time na at wala pa kayong VP?

SPFMD: Well, the deadline is getting nearer. Mas mabuti na makapaghanda na dahil ang dating nililigawan ay ngayon ay kandidato na sa pagkapangulo.