Civil society groups back Roxas

MANILA, Philippines - About 500 local and national civil society organizations yesterday expressed support for Liberal Party (LP) standard-bearer Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas for his presidential bid in 2016.

The organizations comprised farmers, fishermen, urban poor, persons with disability, women, youth, indigenous people, teachers, retired police and military personnel, overseas Filipino workers and seafarers.

“Bet Ko Si Mar” (Mar is my bet) is the theme of national endorsement for Roxas, which started yesterday with over 1,500 supporters from Metro Manila and Luzon.

Roxas led the oath-taking of new LP members during a simple ceremony at the Balay Expo Centro Building at Araneta Center in Cubao, Quezon City.

“We welcome you with open arms. We welcome you as brothers in arms. We welcome you as fellow ‘combatants and fighters’ dito sa ating Daang Matuwid (for our straight path).  Thank you! See you on the frontlines,” he said.

He added he was thankful for the support to continue the program initiated by President Aquino’s administration.

He said the LP would continue to fight for what is right and for the welfare of the Filipino people.

“This fight will not be easy. There are people who would like to go back to the old system of lording over instead of serving their true bosses, the people,” Roxas said in Filipino.

New LP members

Meanwhile, lawmakers and scores of local officials took their oath yesterday as new LP members before Roxas and Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr.

The additional LP members were part of efforts of the party to consolidate support for Roxas’ bid for presidency.

The lawmakers who joined the LP were Reps. Frederick Abueg of Palawan; Leopoldo Bataoil (Pangasinan); Ana Go (Isabela); Magtanggol Gunigundo (Valenzuela City); Damian Mercado (Southern Leyte); Philip Pichay (Surigao del Sur), and Catherine Barcelona-Reyes (Camarines Norte).

 Aside from the incumbent lawmakers, two former House members, Edcel Lagman of Albay and Renato Unico of Camarines Norte, also joined the party.

 In all, 181 political leaders took their oath as LP members.

 “The political party that we belong to stands on strong principles,” Roxas said in Filipino in welcoming his new partymates.

 He said the LP has a long history of advocating for transparency, accountability, and integrity in the Philippine government. This tradition was proven by the Aquino administration’s espousal of “daang matuwid (straight path) in its five years of service to the Filipinos.”

Belmonte suggested that Roxas consider searching for his running mate outside the LP.

 He said Roxas wanted Sen. Grace Poe to be his vice presidential candidate but it was obvious that she has other plans.

He said a tandem of Roxas and Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano was also an excellent combination.

“Definitely I’m very open to the notion that the vice presidential candidate need not be a Liberal,” Belmonte said. – Cecille Suerte Felipe, Paolo Romero, Danny Dangcalan