Roxas plea to media: Don’t put political color on my provincial visits

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar – Interior Secretary Mar Roxas has asked the media not to taint with political color his efforts going around provinces to distribute patrol jeeps to police stations in different regions.

In an ambush interview on Thursday, Roxas’ response turned sour when he was asked by some members of the local media if his provincial visits signify the start of his campaign for the 2016 presidential elections.

“Hindi naman fair na lagyan ninyo ito ng malisya o intriga ‘yung paggawa ko ng trabaho. Kapag hindi naman ako pumunta dito, anong sasabihin niyo, ‘bakit hindi pumunta rito?’ Hindi ho ba kaya sala sa init, sala sa lamig. Mas mabuti na gawin ko na lang trabaho ko,” he told reporters in Catbalogan City in Samar province.

When asked if his appearances are part of his political campaign, a visibly irked Roxas said: “Kayo sa media nilalagyan niyo ng kulay o bahid pulitika ito, di ba taga-dito kayo sa Samar? Isa sa pinakamahirap na rehiyon sa ating buong bansa? Di ba taon taon sinasalanta ito ng bagyo?”

“Nandito ako noong Ruby, noong Yolanda. Tinutulungan natin ang Region 8 (Eastern Visayas) lalo na Samar island para makabangon sila,” he added.

The chief of the Department of the Interior and Local Government has been visiting provinces in Luzon and Mindanao to turn over patrol jeeps to police regional units nationwide.

For Visayas, Roxas went on Thursday to Samar province, one of the New People’s Army-infested provinces, to lead the distribution of 23 brand new units of multi-role patrol jeeps.
This is part of 1,470 brand new patrol jeep units Philippine National Police procured for municipalities all over the country.

He stressed that additional patrol vehicles will help the local police force maintain the peace and order situation in the province against communist rebels.

After the turnover of patrol jeeps, Roxas went to the Philippine Army’s 8th Infantry Division headquarters in Camp Lukban, also in Catbalogan City, to meet with Army officials on the peace and order situation in the province. AC