Supporters to Roxas: ‘Where’s Korina?’

BATANGAS CITY – “Where is Korina?”

Liberal Party standard-bearer Mar Roxas got this question a lot from the locals of vote-rich Batangas City when he campaigned in a public market here, reminiscent of the days when he was still known as “Mr. Palengke” that earned him a senate seat in the 2004 elections.

“Asan na ang darling mo? (Where’s your darling?)” asked a fish vendor Roxas approached as he made rounds at Julian Pastor Memorial Market in Barangay (village) Cuta in Batangas City. Roxas would just respond with a laugh.

Just like in his previous campaigns in other provinces, supporters watching Roxas from afar would ask, “bakit kaya hindi niya kasama si Korina? (Why is Korina not with him?)”

READ: ‘Mr. Palengke’ Roxas takes campaign to Batangas

Roxas’ wife broadcaster and TV personality Korina Sanchez-Roxas is being criticized for her presence in the events of the Department of Agriculture (DA), where the agency distributes checks to farmers.

The camp of Roxas’ rival Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said Korina’s participation in DA events makes her “an accomplice in a systematic shameless act that conditions the electorate to accept dole-outs in exchange for votes.”

But in an ambush interview in Davao del Norte, a visibly irked Roxas said there’s nothing wrong with Korina campaigning for him. She’s using a private car and her own money after all, Roxas defended.

READ: Roxas defends Korina: Is it wrong for my wife to campaign for me?

Meanwhile, administration vice presidential candidate Leni Robredo also went around the wet market, shaking hands and taking photos with vendors still wearing their aprons.

With Robredo was Quezon City Rep. Jorge Banal, who would tell the locals they were meeting: “Wag niyo pong kakalimutan, Leni Robredo number 5 sa balota.”

The public market was Roxas and Robredo’s first stop in this province where he lost in 2010 to his political archirival Vice President Jejomar Binay, whose father is a native of Bauan, by almost 200,000 votes.

Roxas got 383,170 votes while Binay won the province with 558,748 votes.

Later in the afternoon, Roxas and Robredo, along with the senatorial candidates of the ruling party, will hold a campaign rally at the Old City Plaza in Calamba, Laguna. President Benigno Aquino III will be there to join the administration bets. CDG

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