Mar to bring Palace closer to people if he wins

MANILA, Philippines - Administration presidential candidate Mar Roxas has vowed to help and serve people where they are if he wins the elections in 2016.

“If I become president, you don’t need to go to Malacañang, Malacañang will come to you,” Roxas said in the Visayan dialect during the inauguration of rehabilitation projects in Bogo City, Cebu on Friday.

“That’s my vow, to bring the government to you to help you, to allow you to have something to lean on, stand on to improve your lives,” he said.

Roxas was the guest of honor during the inauguration of the Polambato Port Passenger Terminal, rebuilt after Typhoon Yolanda destroyed it in 2013.

The construction of the port was finished in June 2015 through funding worth P2.5 million from the local government of Bogo.

Roxas also visited the Bogo Sports Complex, which was rehabilitated through the Department of the Interior and Local Government-Recovery Assistance for Yolanda (RAY) fund at P4,137,666. 

Roxas said he initiated the DILG-RAY to reconstruct damaged provincial, city and municipal buildings, public markets, civic centers and barangay infrastructure in the province. 

Opposing positions

Meanwhile,  Pasig City Rep. Roman Romulo said he was puzzled by positions taken by Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo on various issues contrary to those of the administration, where she is its vice presidential candidate.

Romulo, who belongs to the senatorial slate of Sen. Grace Poe, cited Robredo’s latest comments that the senator does not deserve to be president as she once renounced her citizenship.

The lawmaker said no less than President Aquino repeatedly courted Poe to be the running mate of Roxas.

“I find Rep. Robredo’s comments quite perplexing, considering that her own party, led by the President and LP bet Mar Roxas, aggressively wooed Sen. Poe to be Mar’s running mate before ultimately deciding to give up and settle for the lady from Camarines Sur,” Roman said.

“The LP did not question Sen. Grace’s patriotism when they invited her to run in their Senate slate, neither did they question it again when they tried to convince her as the party’s vice presidential bet. So why are these questions now?” he asked.

 He said he believes Robredo failed to grasp the implications of her “ill-advised statements” when she questioned Poe’s love of country.

“Yes, some OFWs are not running for president, but what if they decide to? Will Leni and the LP deny these Filipinos, who only want to improve their lot, the right to seek public office because at one point in their lives they chose to live abroad? I think this is incredibly unfair to those we consider our modern-day heroes,” Romulo said.