It’s time for Roxas to quit post, says Marcos

Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

MALVAR, Batangas—After being endorsed by President Benigno Aquino III as the administration’s presidential candidate, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas should resign to make sure that government resources are not used for his candidacy, Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos said on Friday.

“In my opinion, to be clear that he is not using his position as a Cabinet secretary, that he is not using his office and government funds in his candidacy, it is best that he resign,” said Marcos, who was here for a consultation with coconut farmers.

With the deadline for the filing of certificates of candidacy set on Oct. 16, Marcos, a member of the Nacionalista Party, said he had yet to decide what office to run for in the 2016 general elections.

“I have no deadline for myself about that,” he said.

Party decision

He said decisions on who would run for President, Vice President and senators would be made by the Nacionalista Party.

“A national campaign would not be successful if you would not be supported by the machinery of a major political party that is organized nationwide,” he said.

Marcos spoke at Lima Park here for a consultation attended by some 600 coconut farmers from the provinces of Marinduque, Laguna, Batangas and Mindoro.

Coco levy fund

The farmers sought Marcos’ help in asking the Supreme Court in stopping the Aquino administration from privatizing the coconut levy fund through Executive Order Nos. 179 and 180 signed on March 18.

The two issuances ordered the sale of all coco levy assets and use the proceeds to improve coconut farms’ productivity, boost coconut farmers’ income, strengthen their organizations and ensure a balanced and sustainable growth for the coconut industry.

But the Confederation of Coconut Farmers Organization of the Philippines Inc. (CCFOP) challenged the legality of Aquino’s executive orders in the Supreme Court.

On June 30, the court issued a temporary restraining order halting the implementation of EO 179 and EO 180.

Marcos assured the coconut farmers that he would help them.