Belmonte brushes aside Mar’s reported speakership bid in 2013

House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. on Tuesday brushed aside reports that Transportation and Communications Secretary Manuel Roxas II is planning to challenge him for the chamber’s top post in 2013. Belmonte said Roxas himself contacted him earlier in the day to dismiss reports pitting them against each other as “intrigues." “For the record, he (Roxas) texted me and said na wala ‘yan, intriga lang ‘yan," he said at a press briefing. “I will never confront him. Coincidentally, I will never confront anybody." Belmonte, however, said Roxas has the right to seek a congressional post and aspire for the speakership in 2013. “Hindi lang si Mar. Others might have the interest. Of course, manalo ka muna sa eleksyon," he said. Last January, newspaper reports also came out pitting Roxas and Belmonte for the presidency of the ruling Liberal Party (LP). Belmonte also dismissed the reports, with Roxas eventually winning the post. Roxas ran for vice president during the 2010 polls, but lost to incumbent Vice President Jejomar Binay. Binay has already expressed his intention to run for president in 2016, while Roxas remains mum on his political plans. - Andreo C. Calonzo/KBK, GMA News