Liberal Party bets former Interior secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II and Camarines Sur representative Leni Robredo on Thursday formally sealed their 2016 tandem after filing their certificates of candidacy (COCs) in Intramuros, Manila.
Roxas and Robredo filed their COCs for president and vice president, respectively, at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) headquarters.
Roxas said he and Leni were hoping that the voting public would pick in next year’s polls the right leaders who will advance the best interest of the Filipino family.
“Kami po ni Leni ay nagtitiwala na ang ating mga kababayan ay pipili ng tama sa darating na halalan (Leni and I trust the people will choose correctly in the 2016 elections),” Roxas said.
“Ang amin pong ipinaglalaban ay hindi tungkol sa isang tao, isang tandem, o isang partido. Tungkol po ito sa lahat ng pangarap ng pamilyang Pilipino—pangarap na mabuhay ng may dangal,” he added.
(What we are fighting for is not just the interest of one person, one tandem or one party. This is about the dream of all Filipino families—their dream to live with dignity.)
Roxas thanked the public for accepting them as the tandem who vows to continue the administration’s reform of good governance.
“Nagpapasalamat po kami sa ating mga kababayan sa pagkakataon na humarap sa inyo at ialay ang aming sarili bilang kinatawan ng ‘Daang Matuwid,’” he said.
(We thank the people for this opportunity to face them and offer ourselves as agents of the “Straight Path.”)
The presidential bet also expressed gratitude to other aspirants who have already filed their COCs for putting their trust on the democratic process.
Roxas said the COC filing marked the start of their “all-in fight.”
“Ito ang laban na dapat ipaglaban (This is the fight worth fighting for),” he said.
Echoing Roxas, Robredo vowed to continue the gains of the present administration if ever elected vice president, saying that the “Daang Matuwid” platform will sustain a clean and transparent government.
“Sa pagharap po namin ni Mar Roxas sa inyong lahat ngayong umaga, ang pinapangako po namin ay ang pagpapatuloy, pagsusulong, at lalong pagpapalawak ng makabuluhang pagbabago na sinimulan ng ating Pangulo,” Robredo said.
(As Mar and I face you this morning, we vow to continue, improve and elevate the vital changes that our President has started.)
“Naniniwala po kami na ang Daang Matuwid ang magpapatuloy ng malinis na pamamahala at pagbibigay serbisyo sa ating mga kababayan lalo na po ‘yung mga mahihirap, para maiparating natin ang kaunlaran sa lahat ng sulok ng ating bansa,” she added.
(We believe that the Straight Path will continue the untainted government and provision of services to the people especially those who are poor so that every corner in the country will experience progress.)
Roxas, a believer in feng shui practices, previously hinted that he and Robredo will file their COCs on his “lucky day.”
READ: Roxas, Robredo to file COCs on ‘lucky day’
Ahead of the filing, the two attended a Mass with President Benigno Aquino III at the Manila Cathedral.
READ: Roxas, Robredo hear mass before filing COCs on Thursday
Yellow ribbons can be seen all over the vicinity of the church, which was inspected by the Presidential Security Group ahead of Aquino’s arrival.
The atmosphere outside Comelec headquarters was festive, with the presence of supporters holding placards and even dragon dance performers.
Roxas was accompanied by his wife broadcaster Korina Sanchez and mother Judy Araneta Roxas, while Robredo was joined by her three daughters with the late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo.
Also present during the Mass were Aquino’s sisters and LP stalwarts, including Transportation Secretary and party president Jun Abaya, House Speaker and campaign manager Feliciano Belmonte, and Budget Secretary Butch Abad. IDL
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