Photo from official Mar Roxas Twitter account
For the first time, presidential sister and actress Kris Aquino joined Liberal Party administration bet Mar Roxas in his campaign in the province of Samar.
This is the first time the two were seen campaigning together after rumors went around that she was secretly supporting Vice President Jejomar Binay, a family friend of the Aquinos, until he announced his opposition to the President.
READ: Kris Aquino: President scolded us for Binay plug
Aquino, who has also declared her support for administration vice presidential bet Leni Robredo, joined Roxas in barnstorming the province. They went to Eastern Samar; Catarman, Northern Samar; and Calbayog, Western Samar.
In an interview in Calbayog City, Roxas thanked Aquino for standing up for the “Daang Matuwid,” which he said promotes clean and honest governance.
READ: Kris Aquino campaigns for Roxas, Robredo
Roxas also thanked the celebrity and television host for giving time for his campaign.
“Pwede naman kasi, patapos na ‘yung termino ng kanyang kapatid, pwede naman na manahimik nalang. Pwede naman na sabihin niya o isipin niya na, ‘well, maganda na ‘yung kita ko. Secure na ‘yung future ni Josh at ni Bimby. Pwede naman na magpapasantabi nalang at mananahimik.’ Pero nandito siya, kasama siya sa ating laban para magpatuloy ‘yung matino at malinis na pamamahala. So nagpapasalamat ako sa kanya,” he said.
Asked if he thinks Aquino would help him improve his numbers in the surveys, Roxas said Aquino’s endorsement carries so much weight in his campaign.
“Napakahalaga ng kanyang pangampanya para sa atin, ‘yung kanyang endorsement. Tinitingala siya, hinahangaan siya ng ating mga kababayan, lalong-lalo na ‘yung mga kababaihan, at para sa akin, malaking tulong po ito. Kabahagi ito ng lahat ng pwersa na naniniwala sa matino at maayos,” said Roxas.
Saying that Roxas and his believers are “all-in” in the fight for the Daang Matuwid, he said they will not allow the country to return to its dark past–being led and controlled by a dictator.
“All-in na tayo rito sa laban na ito. Dahil pag hindi nagwagi ang malinis na pamamahala dito, babalik tayo sa madumi, sa maka-diktador na pamamahala na nakita na nating hindi maayos, hindi maganda para sa ating bansa,” he said.
While in Samar, the former interior and local government secretary recalled his experience during typhoons Yolanda and Ruby that brought the province to its knees.
“Mahalagang-mahalaga sa puso ko ang ating mga kababayan dito sa Samar. Nakita naman po ninyo, wala pa si Ruby, nandito na ako. Hindi ako umalis hanggang ma-stabilize ang sitwasyon sa Ruby,” he said.
Roxas recalled how he struggled to make it to Dolores in Eastern Samar, the town hardest hit by Ruby, in order to send in relief and to check on the situation at the typhoon’s ground zero.
“Sa Yolanda, ganoon din. Nandoon tayo, halos dalawang linggo tayong hindi umuwi. Bago pa dumating ang Yolanda, nandoon na tayo para mapaghandaan ng mga kababayan natin,” he said.
Roxas, who is being criticized for his alleged mishandling of the Yolanda rehabilitation, also remembered the times he patrolled around Basey in Western Samar to the San Juanico Strait with the police to ensure the safety of the residents.
“Malapit sa atin ang ating mga kababayan dito sa Samar at tutulungan natin sila sa abot ng ating makakaya,” he added. JE
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