ILOILO CITY (PNA) – Liberal Party stalwart Senator Franklin Drilon said that outgoing Senator Manuel A. Roxas, who ran as President-elect Benigno Simeon Aquino III’s Vice President, will play a “big role” in the Aquino administration, no matter if he was defeated by former Makati City Mayor Jejomar C. Binay, in the Vice Presidential contest in the May 10 polls. Binay ran for Vice President with former President Joseph E. Estrada under the Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) banner.

Drilon said Roxas will figure much in the programs of President-elect Aquino especially where it concerns the economy, investments and other new policies.

He said the plans that President-elect Aquino has for the country were fully supported by Roxas even before the elections.

“This is the reason why Roxas aggressively campaigned for Aquino during the automated polls,” pointed out Drilon.

The former Senate President said Roxas “is more than qualified to help President-elect Aquino with his long-term plans for the country as he has proved his mettle as a Senator and having held various government positions in the past.” Roxas had been Secretary of Trade and Industry during parts of the Estrada and Arroyo administrations.

“Roxas and Aquino have the same vision for a better Philippines,” stressed the senator.

Drilon added further that “although Roxas may have lost in the vice presidential race, he can still serve the public in various ways and will most probably return to the political limelight in the coming years.”

There is a ban which restricts candidates who ran in the elections from holding a position in government for one year. Aquino had already expressed his commitment to give his Vice-Presidential partner a significant role in the Cabinet after the year, even as he (Aquino) underlined that Roxas “will always have unlimited access to me” even while said one-year ban is in effect.

Asked by local media what position he thinks the President-elect will eventually give Roxas, Drilon said it is too early to predict what President Aquino has in store for the latter’s defeated partner in the Liberal Party tandem.

Meanwhile, Drilon, who hails from Iloilo, said he has not endorsed any Ilonggo to any top government position in Western Visayas. He said “that is the prerogative of President Aquino and the new President has a mind of his own.”