PNoy did not endorse Mar as successor: official

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - President Benigno Aquino III did not endorse former senator Manuel Roxas II, his defeated runningmate in the May 2010 elections, as his successor when his term ends in June 2016, a senior official said today.

Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Secretary Ramon Carandang said Aquino's remarks at the Liberal Party's socials night in Malacañang about the possibility of Roxas replacing him was not an explicit endorsement for the Liberal Party president.

"It's still too early. It's only 2011," Carandang said.

He also said he does not see any problem with Roxas' entry into the Palace as Aquino's chief troubleshooter when the one- year ban on appointing defeated candidates expires in the middle of this year.

He said there is only a lot of interest in Roxas' appointment because he was Aquino's runningmate.

He said if Executive Secretary Pacquito Ochoa Jr., who belongs to another political faction in the Aquino administration, has no problem with Roxas' impending entry into the Palace, he also does not see why there should be any problem with Roxas' appointment.

Ochoa earlier said he is not threatened by Roxas' impending entry into the Palace because the job of chief troubleshooter is only "advisory" while his functions are mandated by law. (report from Philstar.com)