Roxas tells Poe: Being president not like undergoing OJT

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines—Leading the country isn’t as easy as undergoing an on-the-job training (OJT), said Liberal Party (LP) standard-bearer and former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas of Senator Grace Poe’s thin track record in politics.

However, before this, Poe argued that it was never proven that the length of a politician’s term in government office determines the quality of his or her service to the public.

“Ang pagiging pangulo ay hindi OJT. Kinabukasan, buhay, kaunlaran ng 100 milyong Pinoy ang nakasalalay dito kaya may tamang panahon para sa lahat. Karanasan ang isa sa pinakamahalagang katangian para sa pagiging pangulo. Paano mo malalaman kung binobola ka o hindi?” said Roxas.

(Being the president is not like undergoing an OJT. The future, lives and progress of 100 million Filipinos are at stake here so there is a right time for everything. Experience is one of the most important quality of the president. How will you know if others are only fooling you?)

However, in Poe’s counter-rebuttal, she said she knows when she is being fooled despite her limited experience in politics.

“Alam ko naman ‘pag binibola ako o hindi kahit maikli ang panunungkulan ko sa gobyerno,” said the senator, who was wooed by Roxas to be his running mate before Camarines Rep. Leni Robredo accepted the vice presidential offer of the ruling LP.

(I know when I am only being fooled despite my short period of my service in the government.)

Poe then criticized Roxas’ failure as the former Transportation Secretary to address the agonizing condition of the Metro Rail Transit.

“Tama si Sec. Mar, naka tatlong administrasyon siya. Nabigyan na ng mga responsibilidad sa gobyerno. Pasensya na rin pero marami akong inimbestigahan katulad ang DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government) at DOTC (Department of Transportation and Communications) sa MRT at sa tingin ko, hindi ko kailangan ng napakahabang karanasan para malaman na may kakulangan ng tulong ng gobyerno sa transportasyon,” she said.

(Sec. Mar (Roxas) is right, he has served under three administrations. He has been given responsibilities in the government. Forgive me but I have investigated departments like DILG and DOTC on MRT and I think I don’t need long period of experience to know that there is a lack of government assistance in transportation.) RAM

RELATED STORIES

‘Relaxed’ Roxas arrives in Cagayan de Oro City for 1st presidential debate

Slow and steady wins the ‘marathon,’ says Roxas