Liberal Party standard bearer Mar Roxas. INQUIRER PHOTO
NAGA CITY—It’s going to be a choice between democracy and dictatorship for the electorate on May 9, said Liberal Party standard-bearer Mar Roxas on Thursday.
The upcoming election day will be a face-off between the leaders for democracy—Roxas and his running mate Leni Robredo—and leaders who want to bring back the dark days of martial law—Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Senator Bongbong Marcos, said Roxas.
“Matingkad na matingkad po—Roxas-Robredo para sa demokrasya, para sa malinis at hayag na pamamahala, o Duterte-Marcos para ibalik sa Batas Militar, balik sa karahasan, balik sa sila lang ang marunong sa ating bansa, at sila lang ang may hawak ng pondo ng ating bansa. ‘Yan po ang pagpapasiyahan ng ating mga kababayan sa ika-9 ng Mayo,” Roxas said in an interview in Legazpi City.
(It’s crystal clear. Roxas-Robredo for democracy, for a clean and transparent government or Duterte-Marcos to bring back Martial Law, back to violence, back to where the mighty rules, they who only hold the funds for our country. That’s what our countrymen will decide on May 9.)
Roxas made this pronouncement after Duterte and Marcos have been endorsed by the bloc-voting Iglesia Ni Cristo, boosting further their candidacy for president and vice president, respectively. The INC bloc vote is seen to generate nearly 2 million votes.
READ: INC backs Duterte, Marcos
The former Interior secretary warned the electorate as he likened Duterte to the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos, who is Bongbong’s father and namesake.
He said a Duterte presidency signals the return of martial law in the country.
“‘Yun din ang mga katangian na pinapakita ni Mayor Duterte—mabigat na kamay, karahasan, pang-iinsulto, siya lang ang tama, siya lang ang mag-iisip, siya lang ang magdedesisyon sa ating bansa. ‘Pag pinakitaan po ng datos, ng facts na kontra doon sa kanyang pananaw, iinsultohin ka, babantaan ka, at mumurahin ka, tapos papalitan ang topic,” he said.
(That’s the qualities shown to us by Mayor Duterte—iron-fist rule, violence, insults, only-he-is-right attitude, only he will think and decide for our country. If you show him data, facts that counter his beliefs, he will retaliate with insults, he will attack you and curse you and change the topic.)
And like Marcos, Roxas said Duterte does not only have a dirty mouth, but unclean hands too as the latter was accused of hidden wealth.
READ: Trillanes: Duterte has more hidden wealth
“Nakita rin po natin ‘yan, ‘yung isang kamay niya, mabigat, karahasan. ‘Yung kabilang kamay niya, madumi, may tinatagong mga kayamanan,” he added.
(We’ve seen that. One hand is heavy with violence. The other is dirty with hidden wealth.)
“Hindi pa nga siya nakaupo, may secret bank accounts na siya na hindi kasama sa kanyang SALN (statement of assets, liabilities and net worth). Ang kanyang sagot sa lahat ng mga… kung may kumikwestiyon sa kanya, ipapasara niya ang kongreso, ipapasara niya ang senado. Mawawala ang COA (Commission on Audit). Mawawala ang Ombudsman,” he said.
READ: Duterte: ‘I will abolish congress’
(He has yet to take his seat [as president], but he has secret bank accounts not included in his SALN. His answers to all accusations, close Congress and the Senate. There will be no more COA. There will be no more Ombudsman.)
But Roxas said he believes that in the end, the people will choose the right candidate.
“Nananalig po ako, pipiliin ng mga kababayan natin ang malinis. Pipiliin ng mga kababayan natin ‘yung hayag, ‘yung tapat, na nakita na nila, na naranasan na nila, at alam nila na magpapatuloy ng pundasyon sa ating kaginhawaan at sa ating kaunlaran,” he said.
(I have faith that our countrymen will choose the clean candidates. Our countrymen will choose the transparent and honest [candidates], those they’ve seen already, those they’ve experienced and those they knew would continue the foundation for our prosperity and progress.) TVJ
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