Former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas. INQUIRER.net file photo / CHRISTIA MARIE RAMOS
MANILA, Philippines — Is Mar Roxas open to run for a higher office again?
“I’ve been there, done that,” Roxas said when the question was asked in an interview with ABS-CBN’s morning show “Headstart,” aired on Tuesday.
In 2010, Roxas ran for vice president but lost to Jejomar Binay. He later joined the Aquino Cabinet as Secretary of the Department Transportation and later as Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government.
Six years after, Roxas ran for the highest position in the land but lost again; this time, to President Rodrigo Duterte.
He considers running for a higher office a serious undertaking.
“I mean, it’s serious because papasanin mo lahat itong mga pangarap, lahat itong mga problema, and kailangan may sagot ka sa lahat, ‘di ba?” Roxas said.
“And so that was a serious undertaking which I did with honor. I was honored to have done that in behalf of the people.
“I did not win, I accept that. I offered tinolang manok, they chose kare-kareng baka…” he added.
READ: Roxas concedes defeat: I wish you success, Mayor Duterte
Asked to described himself today, Roxas said he was at peace.
“You can’t hurt me. Nobody can hurt me. I’m at peace,” said Roxas, who is seeking to return to the Senate in the upcoming May elections.
He said he is running because he could not accept that the Philippines would just stay as a third world country.
“After 2016, after everything that I’ve been through, I’m doing this for the country and what happens will happen. Ok lang yan,” Roxas added. /je