Philippine prez endorses interior minister as next leader

“We choose the one who is certain to pursue the straight and narrow path,” said Aquino, alluding to his hallmark anti-graft crusade that he says ushered in unprecedented economic growth in the impoverished archipelago nation.

“I believe that person is none other than Mar Roxas,” the president told cheering members of his Liberal Party, using the minister’s nickname. The Philippines elects a new leader in May 2016.

Contenders must register their candidacy ahead of a mid- October deadline.

The interior minister is likely to run against Vice President Jejomar Binay, who is being investigated by a special prosecutor over graft allegations, and the popular Senator Grace Poe, who had also sought Aquino’s endorsement.

Supporters in yellow clapped and chanted “Roxas Now” as the 58-year-old grandson of the Philippines’ first president choked back tears and thanked Aquino.

“I accept the challenge,” said Roxas. “I will never stray from the straight and narrow path.” Aquino said he interviewed three potential candidates ahead of today’s endorsement, but in the end chose Roxas, even though he has been polling poorly.

However, analysts say Aquino’s pick was laden with risk.

“On paper, he looks like a competent technocrat and successor,” Richard Javad Heydarian, a political science professor at Manila’s De La Salle University, told AFP.

“But he lacks the popular touch,” Heydarian said of the interior minister, whose wealthy family owns one the capital’s largest commercial centres.

According to recent polls, Roxas trails Binay, whose populist policies as mayor of Manila’s financial district won the hearts of the area’s poor.

Heydarian also warned that Roxas and Poe could split Aquino’s support base, giving Binay an edge.

Aquino on Friday downplayed Roxas’ poor polling numbers.

“If something is really important, you must work hard for it, fight for it,” he told an audience of senators, congressmen, mayors and campaign organisers.

Binay said he was looking forward to a rematch with Roxas, after beating him in the 2010 vice presidential election.

“If this were boxing, we fought as lightweights, now we’re welterweights,” Binay told reporters.