Bayan hits Mar Roxas, Aquino allies for ‘early campaigning’

Bayan secretary-general Renato Reyes. NOY MORCOSO/INQUIRER.net FILE

A militant group on Wednesday slammed the ‘premature campaigning’ of Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II and presumed administration senatorial candidates like Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and Metro Manila Development Authority Chair Francis Tolentino.

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) said that Roxas and other officials of the Aquino Cabinet should resign first before going around the country to woo voters.

“If Mar Roxas won’t stop his early campaigning, he should submit his irrevocable resignation from his appointive position in the DILG,” Bayan Secretary General Renato Reyes said in a statement.

“The same goes for members of Aquino’s cabinet and other appointive officials who have plans for 2016 and who are now going around the country together with Roxas and Aquino,” Reyes added.

Bayan issued the statement after de Lima, Tolentino and other Cabinet officials joined Roxas and President Benigno Aquino III in a “Gathering of Friends” in Cebu City on Monday. Aquino endorsed Roxas in the said event.

Malacañang justified on Tuesday the presence of the government officials in the event, saying that they were the alter egos of the President and should support him in his official functions.

“Meron pong konsepto dyan. Yung konsepto ng alter ego of the President. Lahat kami ay naglilingkod para sa pangulo, at kung may official function ang pangulo, makatwiran na naroon din ang mga miyembro ng Gabinete,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said.

(There is this concept of being alter egos of the President. We are all serving the President, and if he has official functions, it is only necessary for members of the Cabinet to attend the event and throw their support.)

This did not sit well with Bayan who said Coloma’s statement was an insult to the intelligence of Filipinos.

“Malacanang thinks the public is too stupid to notice early campaigning using public funds,” Bayan said.

It added, “Coloma should stop insulting our collective intelligence by saying these officials are alter egos of the President trying to touch base with the people. Being with the people could be done quietly, no fanfare, no media hype and no huge expenses.” Aries Joseph Hegina