Sec. Coloma says Malacañang is focused on implementing programs

The Palace on Thursday (April 16) reiterated that it remains focused on carrying out the administration's programs in the remaining days of President Benigno S. Aquino III’s term, even as the country gears up for next year’s presidential election.
Reacting to a recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey on the “three best leaders to succeed PNoy in 2016”, Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said the administration’s attention is on the implementation of its programs and not on politics.

The latest survey, he said, could guide the country’s voters in choosing the better candidate.
"Pero ang pokus po namin ngayon ay hindi sa mga kandidato o sa eleksyon, kung hindi sa trabaho ng pamahalaan," he added.

Coloma said he heard the President tell Agence France-Presse during a recent interview that he will announce the administration’s presidential bet in June.

Coloma noted that President Aquino often emphasizes that his successor must be someone who would continue the reforms that he has initiated.

"Ang suhestiyon niya o ang payo niya ay tingnan kung sino ba talaga ang makapagpapatuloy at makapagtitiyak na ang mga reporma at transpormasyong nasimulan na ay makukumpleto," the Palace official said.

The SWS survey, conducted last March 20 to 23 among 1,200 adults nationwide, showed that Vice President Jejomar Binay and Senator Mary Grace Poe-Llamanzares remain in the top two positions, with 36 percent and 31 percent, respectively.

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has overtaken four other potential candidates and is tied with Secretary Roxas for third position, with 15 percent each.

Roxas’ rating dropped to 15 percent from 19 percent in a similar poll conducted on November 27 to December 1 last year.  (PCOO News Release)