Roxas invites Poe to ‘unity’ meeting

In a startling announcement three days before the election, Liberal Party (LP) standard-bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II on Friday invited Sen. Grace Poe to a unity meeting to thwart the looming prospect of a Rodrigo Duterte presidency.

“Grace, let’s talk,” he said, addressing the freshman senator.

READ: Roxas to Poe: Let’s thwart ‘looming dictatorship’

“I will adjust schedules to your convenience. Just tell me where and when, and I will come,” the former interior secretary said during a hastily called press briefing at 5:30 p.m. at LP’s Balay headquarters in Quezon City.

He concluded his remarks with: “This is for unity. This is for our future.”

Roxas did not talk about his withdrawal or asking Poe to withdraw, but hinted that someone between them should have to.

READ: Aquino to voters: Urge Roxas, Poe to unite

“The future is more important than anyone’s political career. I call for unity; I call for decency, for democracy,” he said.

Roxas expressed deep concern about the threats posed by a Duterte presidency, raising among the other things, the “specter of dictatorship,” the peso dropping and the possibility of businesses pulling back their investments.

He characterized the foul-mouthed Davao City mayor as a villain in the elections, after controversies hounding the latter, including an outrageous rape joke and his alleged secret wealth.

“We now face the possibility of someone coming to power, who cares nothing for responsibility, honesty, and transparency,” Roxas said without naming Duterte.

“It’s the responsibility of anyone who desires to be president to think of the welfare of the people,” he said.

Roxas has trailed his rivals for practically the entirety of the election season, but has recently made headway, tying Poe for second place in the latest polling but still behind Duterte who commands a double-digit lead.

Meanwhile, his running mate, Camarines Sur Rep. Ma. Leonor “Leni” Robredo, a freshman lawmaker and the widow of Jesse Robredo, has risen to the top of the voter preference surveys in a neck-and-neck race with Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

The chosen successor of President Benigno Aquino III, Roxas has born the brunt of criticisms directed at the present administration and its signature “tuwid na daan (straight path)” policy.

His campaign, however, has touted a formidable machinery and key alliances with local leaders. RAM