Mar Roxas Photo by Julliane Love De Jesus/INQUIRER.net
BACOLOD CITY—If Liberal Party standard bearer Mar Roxas was upset over his standing in recent survey results, he did not show it during his sortie in Negros Occidental.
Roxas appeared upbeat Tuesday when he urged Negrenses to vote for his running mate, Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo and his senatorial slate in three separate rallies in the province where his mother, Judy Araneta-Roxas, is from.
At least 5,000 people attended the LP rally in the public plaza in Silay City Tuesday morning and about 8,000 in a coliseum in Bago City in the afternoon.
In the evening, the LP was scheduled to have another rally at the Paglaum Stadium in Bacolod City.
The sorties came a day after the Social Weather Station survey results placed Roxas third in the presidential race, dropping three points from January to the first week of February.
Vice President Jejomar Binay topped the survey with 24 percent followed by Sen. Grace Poe and Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte who tied for the second spot.
Despite the results, Roxas cracked jokes in Hiligaynon, danced to his upbeat campaign jingle, and kissed elderly ladies during the rallies.
During the rally in Silay, Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. introduced Roxas as “the pride of Negros” and the most qualified bet for the presidency.
Roxas’ speech ended with a shower of yellow confetti and cheers from the dancing crowd.
Roxas, in an interview, brushed aside the recent SWS results, saying survey results usually rise and fall.
What was important, he added, was the survey to be conducted on Election Day.
Senate President Franklin Drilon said they were depending on Negros Island and Western Visayas to give the LP bets and Roxas a big lead to cover for areas where they may not be so strong.
“We hope to get broad-based support in Negros and Bacolod,” he said.
Drilon said he was not concerned about Roxas’ standing in the recent survey, saying the LP standard bearer could still recover.
LP senatorial bet Leila De Lima said the poor ratings to Roxas could only improve, now that the official campaign has started and the party machinery was at work.
She also pushed for Robredo as vice president.
The martial law record of the Marcos family is a serious issue that must be pondered on by voters, she said,
“Are we willing to gamble the future of our country? Are we willing to gamble on the return of a Marcos?” she asked.