Mar Roxas to advise Aquino during US visit

Former Senator Mar Roxas II, President Aquino's running mate who lost the vice presidential race in the May 10 polls, will serve as the unofficial presidential adviser on business matters in the week-long working visit to the United States, Malacañang said Tuesday. In a press briefing, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said that Roxas, a former trade secretary, is in the US as one of Aquino's "senior advisers." Lacierda said Roxas will be with the President in business meetings, citing the former trade secretary's experience working for the investment bank Allen & Company. "It would be useful for the president when former Senator Mar Roxas is around. So that's nothing unusual and his advice is sought when needed," Lacierda said. Like the other business leaders in Aquino's entourage, Roxas is paying for his own expenses in the US, Lacierda added. Roxas was not on the list of Aquino's official business delegation, according to a Malacañang release on Monday. Another Palace official said that Roxas will contribute significantly to Aquino's visit, from which the President expects to generate tens of thousands of jobs for Filipinos. "Senator Roxas personally knows many of the US business leaders, and he will be a big help in connecting our Philippine business leaders with American business leaders," Presidential Communication Development and Strategic Planning Secretary Ricky Carandang told reporters in Malacañang. Carandang said that the former senator knows American business leaders Herb Allen and Warren Buffett. "We all know Senator Roxas was the running-mate of President Aquino, and that [the two] have an enduring friendship. President Aquino is very comfortable with him and seeks his advice once in a while," Carandang added. Roxas was also with Aquino in Cebu on Wednesday and in Davao on Thursday for the regional economic briefings. The grandson of the late President Manuel Roxas led in pre-election surveys, but then Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay overtook that lead a few days before May 10 and eventually won the race. Aquino had said he will appoint Roxas to a Cabinet post after the one-year ban on appointing losing candidates. — LBG/VS, GMANews.TV