President Benigno Aquino III and Interior Secretary Mar Roxas (left). INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
After President Benigno Aquino III praised him during his Independence Day speech in Iloilo on Friday, Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II on Saturday said he regarded the President’s kind words both as an inspiration and a challenge to continue the administration’s reforms.
In an ambush interview with reporters in Capiz, Roxas welcomed Aquino’s praises, saying he had already done a lot in terms of government service, and could accomplish more if he would continue the President’s “daang matuwid.”
“Hindi naman lingid sa kaalaman ng ating mga kababayan na malayu-layo na ang narating natin. Hindi naman ito perfect—wala namang perfection,” Roxas said. “Hindi pa ito perfect pero malayo na ang narating natin.”
Echoing his own statement on Friday to “let the President’s statement speak for itself,” Roxas added: “Marami na ang nagawa natin at kung magpatuloy tayo dito sa daang matuwid ay mas malayo pa ang magagawa natin.”
During the 117th Independence Day rites in Santa Barbara, Aquino said the creation of the Negros Island Region was Roxas’ initiative, noting that he had always been reliable and calling him a “true son of Panay.”
“You know, Mar Roxas, a true son of Panay, advanced this initiative,” he said. “[As] in the past, we know that whenever we task Mar Roxas to lead a project or program, you can expect that initiative will succeed.”
READ: Aquino close to endorsing Roxas as his anointed | Aquino OKs creation of Negros Island Region
In the sidelines of the Independence Day rites, Senate President Franklin Drilon, a Liberal Party stalwart, told reporters that Aquino “stopped short” of endorsing Roxas as his predecessor.
Asked for his reaction, Roxas said he had always been grateful for the “clear trust” that Aquino had been giving him: “I welcome all the good things that he said not only for me but also for all government workers.”
Aquino, who met with Sen. Grace Poe on Wednesday and would also meet with Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero, previously said he would announce LP’s standard-bearer in 2016 after his last State of the Nation Address in July.
READ: Aquino says he’ll meet with Escudero next | Palace on Roxas: Let Aquino’s words speak for themselves
“Kaya ako naman ay todo-bigay. Alam ko naman ang buong pamahalaan ay kasama ko na todo-bigay ang serbisyo sa ating mga kababayan na talagang naghihirap at ang inaasahan lang at sinasandalan ang kanilang pamahalaan,” Roxas added.
Roxas has been lagging behind Vice President Jejomar Binay and Poe in recent presidential polls. RC
READ: Grace Poe closes in on Jojo Binay in latest SWS presidential poll