LP has other options for vice presidential candidate

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — The Liberal Party (LP) is courting Sen. Grace Poe to join its ticket in 2016. But what if the answer is, "No, thank you"?

If Poe should turn down the offer, the administration party would be forced to find another vice presidential running mate for its presumptive standard bearer, Interior Sec. Manuel Roxas II.

Rep. Rey Umali said on Tuesday (July 21) that the party's top officials were already discussing and considering other qualified alternative candidates.

Umali gave a few names.

Two are from LP: Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos, an actress, and Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo.

However, the widow of former Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo had earlier said she was considering running for senator.

Umali noted that it would be good to have a female bet.

"It's like a family," he said. "You have Mar as the father and yung vice president as the mother."

Coalition partners could also help fill the administration ticket.

Umali said Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte of the Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino (PDP) would also make a viable vice presidential running mate.

Duterte and Roxas were recently seen together in Davao City.

But LP has another coalition choice. The Nacionalista Party (NP) has Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, who had announced he would run for vice president with or without a party.

However, NP still has to announce its coalition plans for 2016, as party members qualified for a higher post were still to make up their minds.

The deadline for the filing of certificates of candidacy is more than two months away.

LP stalwart Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said the public could be surprised with the tandem the party would end up with.