Mar Roxas is Noli's Vice President

Vice President Noli de Castro virtually relinquished his post to Senator Mar Roxas as he publicly endorsed the Liberal Party vice-presidential candidate over his radio dzMM program on Saturday morning.

"Vice President Mar Roxas," De Castro said before opening his radio dzMM program "Para Sa 'Yo Bayan."

Roxas was the lone guest at radio dzMM's "Magandang Morning" program and was about to leave the station when De Castro made the remark.

The incumbent vice-president said, while on air, that he was planning to include a portrait of Roxas in the vice presidents’ gallery.

"Ang gumawa kasi ng gallery sa Office of the Vice President, namatay na iyon eh. Pagagawan ko sana ng painting ito," De Castro announced, but jokingly added, "Hindi. Just in case lang."

Roxas was supposed to run for president under the Liberal Party ticket, but opt out of the race to give way to Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III.

Roxas was lagging behind pre-election surveys for presidentiables, but his voting preference went up when he declared his vice-presidential run.

The senator has been leading vice-presidential surveys.

Nacionalista Party's guest vice-presidential candidate, Sen. Loren Legarda, who is consistently placed 2nd in vice-presidential surveys, is Roxas's and De Castro's common denominator.

Legarda actively pursued an election protest against De Castro after losing in the 2004 vice-presidential race.

Almost confident

Despite his wide lead in the surveys, Roxas said he and LP presidential candidate Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, who has also been leading the surveys, could not relax in the campaign.

He said they would still go around the country to lay down their platform of government to the voters.

The tandem is advocating change and a corrupt-free government.

“No. Actually last night [we went around Quezon and Laguna], presenting our platform of government to the people,” Roxas said.

The senator said that people have been warmly welcoming them wherever they went.

He urged their supporters to be vigilant during the May 10 elections.