Roxas to critics: File suit if you have proof I’m corrupt
Former Secretary Mar Roxas at the first presidential debate in Capitol University, in Cagayan de Oro City. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/LYN RILLON
MANDAUE CITY, Cebu — Liberal Party (LP) standard-bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II challenged his critics to file a case if they have enough evidence to prove that he’s involved in any illegal activity after they accused the former Interior secretary of benefitting from a mining magnate.
Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero slammed Roxas for using the resources of mining company SR Metals Inc. (SRMI) based in Agusan del Norte that was penalized in 2007 for overmining.
READ: Duterte rips Roxas’ use of mining firm’s plane
The SRMI is owned by Francis Eric Gutierrez, a supporter of Roxas who frequently joins the entourage of the presidential candidate in his sorties.
“Itong mga paratang na ito ay mga paratang na itinatapon ng ating mga katunggali dahil wala na silang masabi sa anong plano nila para sa ating bansa. Kung meron mang kamalian, merong kakulangan edi file-an nila ng kaso,” he told reporters in a chance interview in Mandaue City.
(These accusations are hurled by my rivals because they have nothing to say about what their plans for the country are. If there had been any wrongdoing, any lapses, then file [the corresponding] cases.)
The former Interior secretary has admitted using the private planes of Gutierrez but defended the latter by saying that he was a responsible mining operator.
READ: Roxas: I paid for private jet’s rent
Roxas said that he is not a mining commissioner for him to look into illegal mining activities.
“Simpleng simple po yan, hindi po ako ang tagapangasiwa, hindi po ako ang sumusubaybay sa mga gawaing ito,” he said.
(It’s very simple, I am not an administrator, I am not the one to look into these operations.)
Roxas is in Cebu for the second day of the LP’s campaign in the province which has 2.7 million registered voters.
In the latest Pulse Asia survey, Roxas got the majority of voter preference in the Visayas.
READ: Poe, Binay share lead; Escudero, Marcos ‘statistically tied’—Pulse Asia
On Thursday, President Benigno Aquino III graced the campaign rally of the administration bets in Mandaue City.
Later this afternoon, Roxas will visit Toledo City, Dumanjug municipality and Olango Island.
According to Roxas, his critics should instead shift their focus to the corruption allegations against Vice President Jejomar Binay and prod him to shed light on his unexplained wealth.
“Ang importante dito halimbawa ay ipaliwanag ni Vice President Binay kung papano si Ebeng Baloloy, isang kilalang pangalan bilang kanyang long-time private secretary. Papano na dumaan higit sa daang milyong piso sa bank account sa Ebeng Baloloy. ‘Yan hindi ‘yan chismis. ‘Yan nasa AMLC report yan. ‘Yan ang mga dapat na tukuyin nila,” he said.
(The important matter here, for instance, is for Vice President Binay to explain how Ebeng Baloloy, known as his long-time private secretary has accumulated hundreds of millions of pesos in his bank account. That is not a rumor. It’s in the AMLC report. That’s what they should be clarifying.) CDG
READ: Roxas tells Binay: Spare PH from your thievery
