Roxas: We will not lose to abusers, fraudsters and thieves

ROXAS CITY, Capiz—We will defeat thieves, tricksters and abusers, a reference to three of his rival presidential candidates.

Administration presidential candidate Mar Roxas delivered this vow Tuesday as he plunged into the race for Malacañang with a moving sendoff from more than 10,000 of his fellow Capizeños at the packed Capiz Gymnasium here.

Cheered by political allies led by President Aquino, Roxas did not waste time in taking potshots at his rivals for the post which Mr. Aquino, his longtime friend, will relinquish on June 30.

“We are here. We are unstoppable. We will win,” Roxas said.

“We will not lose to abusers, to fraudsters and most importantly, we will not lose to thieves,” Roxas said to a rousing applause from the crowd, which included his wife, broadcaster Korina Sanchez, and his mother, Judy Araneta-Roxas.

Fight worth fighting

He said this was not an ordinary battle but a fight worth fighting. “I’m asking for your help in this cause. Join us in promoting and advancing the next chapter of the daang matuwid (straight path).”

By abusive, the ruling Liberal Party (LP) standard-bearer was apparently referring to tough-talking Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, the presidential candidate of PDP-Laban who has owned up to killing suspected criminals.

The word fraudster seemed to be a swipe at Sen. Grace Poe of Partido Galing at Puso, who has been battling legal challenges to her Filipino citizenship and residency requirement for presidential candidates.

Roxas was obviously speaking to his staunchest political foe, Vice President Jejomar Binay of the United Nationalist Alliance, when he said he would not lose to a thief.

Binay, who narrowly won over Roxas in the 2010 general elections for the vice presidency, and members of his family have been mired in corruption allegations. They have denied any wrongdoing.

Daang Matuwid coalition

Roxas said the proclamation rally of the LP-led Daang Matuwid coalition was also aimed at rekindling the people’s commitment to fight for justice, peace and development of the Aquino administration.

He promised to create jobs, eliminate poverty and provide houses to families.

VP, senatorial slate

Roxas also sought the support of his province mates for his running mate, Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo, the widow of his close friend, the late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, and the coalition’s 12-member senatorial slate.

The President, along with Cabinet members and other officials, arrived at Roxas City airport around 9:30 a.m. before motoring to Barangay Duyoc in Dao town, about 25 kilometers away.

In a speech at the inauguration of a P151-million road project in Dao town before the rally, the President asked a crowd of about 200 to support Roxas and Robredo the same way voters supported him in the 2010 elections.

Yellow shirts

“Let’s us join them. We should elevate them,” he said.

Mr. Aquino motored back to Roxas City for the LP proclamation rally. Many residents in Roxas, including tricycle drivers, wore yellow shirts to show their support for Roxas.

“If you put your trust in me in 2010, trust me again now. We have people with us who will definitely continue and enhance the straight path: They are Mar Roxas and Leni Robredo. Let’s support them. In the end, the country’s bright future will again be in our hands,” the President said in his speech in Roxas City.

4Ps program

“Can you imagine if Mar becomes President? Capiz will be blessed,” a woman from Barangay Banica in Roxas City told the Inquirer.

She said she came on her own with other villagers. But a female resident of Barangay Lanot said she was among the 151 recipients of the government’s 4Ps program of their village who had to attend the rally.

P-NOY, MAR AND LENI INROXAS Liberal Party presidential candidate Mar Roxas and running mate Leni Robredo with President Aquino at the campaign rally of the administration’s Daang Matuwid coalition at Capiz Gymnasium in Roxas City. RAFFY LERMA

“The social workers checked our attendance and we are afraid they might withhold P500 from our monthly subsidy,” she told the Inquirer. She refused to identify herself.

After the four-hour program, the coalition candidates immediately set off for a 114-kilometer motorcade to Iloilo City where a bigger proclamation event was scheduled at 6 p.m.

Roxas and Robredo briefly stopped at Passi City, Iloilo province, where they were met by thousands of residents and local officials. With reports from Nikko Dizon in Iloilo; and Carla P. Gomez and Joey A. Gabieta, Inquirer Visayas