Mar hints at Senate run in 2019

MANILA, Philippines — Former Interior Secretary Manuel "Mar" Roxas II on Monday hinted at a return to public service after a defeat to President Rodrigo Duterte in the 2016 presidential elections.

Although Roxas did not say what position he will run for—or, indeed, whether he is actually running at all—he was a senator from 2004 to 2010, when he ran for vice president alongside Sen. Benigno Aquino III in 2010. 

In a Social Weather Stations survey in September, Roxas had a voter preference of 30 percent, or a potential seventh place in a race for twelve vacancies at the 24-member Senate.

In a video posted on his Facebook page, the former president of the Liberal Party said he had gone through an "examination of conscience and discernment" and had put a lot of thought into the responsibilites of a citizen.

"Feeling ko nagsilbi na ako eh, beterano na, nabigay ko na lahat ng kaya," Roxas, who was savaged on social media during the 2016 presidential campaign said.

(I feel that I have already served, am already a veteran, and have given what I could)

'I'm not perfect, I've made mistakes'

Roxas lost to Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay in the 2010 polls and was appointed secretary of Transportation and Communications in 2011.

He was Interior secretary during the Zamboanga Siege of 2013, the onslaught of Typhoon Yolanda a few months later, and the Mamasapano clash in 2015 — issues that his critics said he had mismanaged and that were thrown against him during the 2016 campaign.

Problems with the Metro Rail Transit-3, a hot election topic in the 2016 polls, were also blamed on him and on Tranpsortation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya, his succesor at the department.

"I'm not perfect, I've made mistakes," he said. 

"May mga pagkukulang, pero masasabi ko na buong-buo kong ibinigay ang sarli ko sa bansa at sa kapwa, nagsilbi ako ng tapat at malinis," he also said.

(I had shortcomings, but I can say I served the country and fellow Filipinos with my all, I served faithfully and cleanly.)

'Life has gotten harder'

He said that he has accepted that he lost in 2016 but also recognizes that people may not have counted on the problems that the country is now facing.

"Naging mas mahirap ang buhay, ang mga presyo ng bilihin, nagsitaasan (Life has gotten harder, prices have increased)," he said.

He said that people had cautioned him against running again, saying he would be making himself a target of lies and "fake news"—a term now loosely used to mean political propaganda and misinformation.

"Apart from pride, may dahilan ba para hindi ako mag-extend ng helping hand? Wala," he said.

(Apart from pride, is there a reason for me not to extend a helping hand? None.) 

"And so here we are: I don’t have any quit in me and I won’t quit on our country. Kung sa tingin ninyo makakatulong pa ako, handa ako. Ino-offer kong muli ang sarili ko sa inyo (If you think I can still help, I am ready. I am offering myself to you)," he also said.  

"At hinihingi ko rin ang tuloy niyo dahil hindi ko kaya ito na nag-iisa (And I am also asking for your help because I cannot do this alone)," Roxas said.