Round 1 goes to Mar Roxas, says Liberal Party

Former Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II FILE PHOTO

Round 1 goes to Mar Roxas, according to the Liberal Party-led Team Daang Matuwid.

A coalition spokesperson on Tuesday said the administration standard-bearer emerged far and away as the biggest winner in what was billed the first presidential debate organized by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI).

‘Showcase expertise’

“He was the only one who was able to showcase his expertise and his grasp of the issues. He did not speak in generalities but in specifics,” said Akbayan Rep. Barry Gutierrez, who was with Roxas at the event.

He said Roxas pulled the rug out from under the feet of his presidential rivals, Senators Grace Poe and Miriam Defensor-Santiago, and Vice President Jejomar Binay, by being the only one to entertain questions from the business crowd.

“By allowing the Q-and-A, he was able to expound on his ideas, and I think he was able to send his message across,” Gutierrez said.

Skip open forum

The other candidates had opted to skip the open forum.

Gutierrez said Roxas had actually come fully prepared for a bruising battle with the other candidates.

“We were surprised that the format was changed,” he said. In the program, the candidates were supposed to share the same stage and to engage each other, but organizers changed the format at the last minute, reportedly upon Binay’s request.

Gutierrez said Roxas was able to show the depth of his experience on many levels of government, as a former legislator and member of Cabinet.

He acknowledged perceptions that Roxas seemed more at home with business people than regular folks.

“This is an audience that appreciates concrete proposals. With the masa, the trick is not to dumb down your message, but to simplify your message, as an expert,” Gutierrez said.