Manila, July 31 (IANS): Philippine president Benigno S. Aquino III on Friday endorsed Manuel Roxas II, secretary of the department of the interior and local government (DILG), for the 2016 presidential elections.

Aquino, in a speech, said he chose Roxas because he believes that his cabinet official, who belongs to the ruling Liberal Party, would certainly continue the "straight path", Xinhua news agency reported.

"To my Bosses (Filipino people), I tell you today, in my opinion, the one who has shown exemplary work and true integrity, the one fully ready to continue the straight path, is none other than Mar Roxas," he said.

Roxas vowed to continue the reforms that the Aquino administration had started.

Roxas was Aquino's running mate in the 2010 elections. He was defeated by current vice president Jejomar Binay, the presumptive presidential candidate of the opposition United Nationalist Alliance in next year's polls.

The DILG chief also served as trade secretary during the initial part of the previous administration and he later became a senator.