Roxas on Salceda defection: It’s about character

Liberal party presidential candidate Mar Roxas INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/RAFFY LERMA

THE DECISION of Albay Gov. Joey Salceda to dump him in favor of rival Sen. Grace Poe was a reflection of the governor’s character and not that of the ruling Liberal Party (LP), administration presidential candidate Mar Roxas said on Monday.

Hours after attending the third and last presidential debate in Pangasinan province, a smiling Roxas faced the media after keynoting a gathering of  3,500 village officials from Central Luzon provinces at Fontana Convention Center in Clark Field, Pampanga province.

Despite consistently lagging behind in preelection surveys, Roxas remained unfazed by the reported exodus of his political allies to the camp of Poe and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, the front-runner in recent voter preference polls.

“People will stay with you or will leave you… You are either a believer or you are not. You are either an opportunist or not. So your character will be tested,” Roxas told reporters.

“This reveals more about each person and the way they act more than about me or the party. Are you just saying these praises about ‘daang matuwid’ (straight path) or about Mar Roxas because it’s convenient? But when it’s no longer convenient, you will jump ship? If you are, then your principles are too shallow,” he said.

Besides himself, three governors in the Bicol region—Miguel Luis Villafuerte of Camarines Sur, Edgardo Tallado of Camarines Norte and Raul Lee of Sorsogon—have expressed support for Poe along with Catanduanes Vice Gov. Jose Teves, according to Salceda.

Salceda said he was still trying to negotiate with Masbate Gov. Vicente Homer Revil to support Poe.

Asked if the LP was doing a loyalty check among its members, Roxas said: “Maybe some of that is going on.”

“But for me, I maintain my trust. If you are a believer, you will believe. I’m a believer—good times, bad times, I’m here to defend the straight path,” he said.

Leni Robredo said she was planning to meet with Salceda and talk about his decision to support Poe and her running mate, Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero.

Some of her political allies, she said, had been telling her that the Albay governor would defect to their rivals.

“Of course I did not believe it until I learned about it,” Robredo said. “It’s really disheartening because he’s a friend and I’ve worked with him. But I respect his decision.”

Top priority

Should she win the presidency, Poe said the Bicol region would be a top priority in the poverty alleviation programs of her administration.

“The support of local leaders is important for what we are fighting for. Bicol is rich and its people are hardworking and determined. They just need help from government to develop the life of each family,” Poe said.

She said she planned to extend and improve the rail system to Bicol; expand health services; provide subsidies to farmers; give free food to students; and further develop the tourism business in the region. “It’s about time Bicolanos rise from their poverty,” said Poe.