Roxas to Escudero: What have you done for Sorsogon?

Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero and former Local Government Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II. INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS

“What has he done for Sorsogon?”

Presidential candidate Manuel “Mar” Roxas II of the Liberal Party said on Wednesday as he hit back at vice-presidential candidate Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero for saying he has done nothing to improve his hometown Roxas City.

READ: Escudero takes jab at Roxas: He could have done more for his province

In an interview on Wednesday, Escudero took a swipe at Roxas, citing his failure to improve Roxas City, despite holding various government positions.

The city is the bailiwick of the Roxas clan.

Escudero said Roxas has been close to three Philippine Presidents including President Benigno Aquino III but failed to deliver more for his province.

In January 2000, Roxas joined the administration of Joseph “Erap” Estrada as trade secretary and was reappointed by former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo during her administration.

When he ran for the Senate in 2004, Roxas was number one in the top 12.

When he ran for Vice President, he lost to then Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay in the 2010 elections. Political analysts said it was because of Escudero’s crucial endorsement of Binay that made Roxas lost the vice-presidency.

Now the two are again at loggerheads.

“Siguro, tanungin din natin ‘yung mga kababayan niya sa Sorsogon kung anong nangyari doon,” Roxas told reporters in an interview in Quezon City on Wednesday.

(Perhaps, let us ask his constituents in Sorsogon on what happened there.)

“What can you expect from somebody like Chiz na saling pusa, nais na namang makahalo sa usaping pang-nasyonal,” Roxas added.

The Liberal Party standard-bearer belied Escudero’s claims that he has done nothing for his home province.

“Alam ko ang Capiz, dati mahirap na mahirap, dati walang tubig, dati walang kuryente at negosyo. Ngayon maunlad na maunlad, ilan ang Jollibee , ilan ang malls. Ito ay hudyat na umuunlad ang isang komunidad at ang mga tao dun ang makakapagsabi niyan,” Roxas said.

(From what I know, Capiz used to be a very poor [province]. There was no water [supply], electricity and businesses. Now it’s very progressive. How many Jollibee [branches] are there? How many malls? These are indications that the community has progressed and the people there will be the ones who can proved that.) TVJ