The Liberal Party will decide whether or not to pursue the taunted tandem of Senators Manuel “Mar” Roxas and Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III for president and vice president in 2010 only after the 40th day of President Corazon “Cory” Aquino’s death next month.

In an interview after a mass offered for Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr.’s 26th death anniversary Friday, Roxas refused to comment on the Mar-Noynoy tandem proposed by former Senate President Jovito Salonga.

“Why not? Pero sa totoo lang, hindi pa naming napag-uusapan ‘yan. Hindi pa nga nagbababang-luksa si Noynoy sa pagpanaw ng kanyang mahal na ina. So may panahon naman para sa pulitika,” he said.

“Hindi naman natin masasabi, siguro pagkatapos ng 40 days, may 40 days tayong pagluluksa, so pagdating naman ng tamang panahon, mapaguusapan naman ‘yan,” he added.

The senator said he understood the responsibility on Noynoy’s should ders, adding that being the only son of the heroic couple entails great expectations from the public.

“Alam ko naman, sinabi sa akin ni Noynoy na ipinasa na (sa kanya) itong obligasyon, itong hamon sa pagseserbisyo sa taumbayan, magmula sa kanyang ama at sa kanyang ina, tungo sa susunod na henerasyon, at hindi niya tatalikdan ang hamon na ito,” Roxas said.

Roxas also vowed to carry on the Filipino people’s quest for democracy and a better life as he led the LP and the nation in honoring ‘’Ninoy’’ and in leading the commemoration of the Plaza Miranda bombing that took place 38 years ago during an LP campaign rally on August 21, 1971.

Meanwhile, Malacanang said the looming tandem of Roxas and Aquino for the 2010 elections is “interesting” but not enough to rattle the nerves of the administration party.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said the Lakas-Kampi-CMD has its own strategy to field the best national and local slate for next year’s elections.

“The administration is making its own plans as I understand from Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita and Presidential political adviser Gabriel Claudio regardless of who the various political parties will put up,” he said in a Palace news conference.

“Definitely Noynoy for president and Mar Roxas for vice president or vice versa is an interesting tandem,” he added.

Remonde said it was natural that Senator Aquino would be pushed into the spotlight to run for president next year amid outpouring support for his deceased parents.

“Personally, Noynoy will inherit the great legacy of leadership of both his father and his mother and therefore a lot of people will be thinking of Noynoy assuming the highest office in the land,” he said. Aquino said he has yet to decide on whether he seek a higher public office next year.

On alleged reports that Roxas has accused the Palace of trying to split the Liberal Party in its choice for presidential bet, Remonde said Roxas should be stand on his own strength of leadership “without pointing fingers to anyone.”

“I’m sure Senator Roxas is a very strong and capable leader. It is not necessary for him to blame anybody,” he said.