PNoy not yet naming 2016 presidential bet

MANILA – President Benigno Aquino III is not yet naming his presidential candidate for 2016. At the Presidential Forum of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines, Aquino declined to answer the question on who is his bet for the 2016 presidential elections, saying he wanted to spare that person from criticisms and allegations during the remainder of his term. Nonetheless, Aquino said he wants whoever his bet will be to continue what he has done and even surpass his accomplishments. "At the end of the day, I think they will have to address that which has all already been asked of me, 'What will happen after you step down?' Then obviously, you would want somebody not just to continue but perhaps, improve on what has already been accomplished. In effect, we're asking them to step up higher given that they'll be starting at a higher plane.," Aquino said. Vice President Jejomar Binay of the opposition United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) has already announced that he will run for president in 2016. The Liberal Party has not yet revealed its 2016 presidential bet, but there have been talks that Interior Secretary Manuel "Mar" Roxas II, Binay's 2013 rival, will be the ruling party's standard-bearer. Roxas, however, has been mum on his plans. In 2010, Roxas abandoned his plans to run for the presidency to give way to the candidacy of party-mate Aquino. He ran for vice president but lost to Binay.