Kiko ready to sacrifice VP bid for Mar

Senator Francis Pangilinan on Tuesday said he is willing to give way to Senator Manuel “Mar" Roxas II should the latter decide to run as vice president in next year’s national elections. “Pati ako handang isakripisyo ang aking mga plano para sa bayan kung ‘yan ang nakakapagbuklod sa bayan. Mas importante ang kinabukasan ng Pilipinas kaysa sariling interes," Pangilinan said in a press statement. (I am ready to sacrifice my political plans for the betterment of the country. I believe the nation’s future is more important than personal interests.) Pangilinan issued the statement shortly after Roxas announced that he is throwing his support to Senator Benigno “Noynoy" Aquino III as the Liberal Party’s standard bearer in next year’s elections.

Roxas however did not say if he would settle for the vice presidential position. Aquino, meanwhile, is yet to announce if he would be LP’s standard bearer. He is expected to make the announcement on Wednesday. Aquino is the only son of the late former President Corazon "Cory" Aquino and slain Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. Calls for him to run for president grew after his mother died last August 1 due to colon cancer. Pangilinan lauded Roxas’ decision to give way to Aquino’s bid as president under LP. “Senator Roxas displayed supreme statesmanship with this move. We laud his recognition of the country’s need for reform over individual ambition. This display of sacrifice is what our countrymen yearn for," he said. He said Roxas' announcement would “help unite a reform-oriented front towards genuine political reform." Pangilinan, who had earlier announced his plan to run for vice president, went on leave from the Liberal Party after it aligned with President Joseph Estrada’s political party. - GMANews.TV