Aquino praises Roxas as man of ‘clear integrity’

President Benigno Aquino III officially endorses Interior Sec. Mar Roxas as Liberal Party’s standard-bearer. PHOTO FROM PH GAZETTE’S TWITTER ACCOUNT

President Benigno Aquino III officially endorses Interior Sec. Mar Roxas as Liberal Party’s standard-bearer. PHOTO FROM PH GAZETTE’S TWITTER ACCOUNT

“Mga Boss, idinudulog ko po sa inyo ngayon, sa akin pong opinyon, ang nagpakita na ng gilas at ng integridad, ang hinog at handang-handang magpatuloy ng Daang Matuwid: walang iba kundi si Mar Roxas.”

(To my bosses, I present to you, the person who has shown skill and integrity, and is ripe and ready to continue Daang Matuwid: no other than Mar Roxas.)

This was how President Benigno Aquino III formally endorsed Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II as the administration’s bet in 2016 before the jampacked crowd at the Club Filipino in San Juan City on Friday.

Aquino described Roxas a man with clear integrity and experience.

He narrated how his search for someone who can continue his straight path policy has led him to Roxas, his fellow Liberal Party (LP) stalwart.

“Sa paghahanap nga po, kinausap natin ang mga taong maaaring magpatuloy sa Daang Matuwid at ang maraming mga sektor. Kinapanayam ko ang tatlong tao, na sa aking pananaw ay kabalikat sa Daang Matuwid,” he said, apparently referring to Roxas and Senators Grace Poe and Francis Escudero.

The President sat down with the three until dawn of July 15 to discuss the 2016 elections.

“Maganda nga po sana, na ang mga kailangan pang magsanay ay talaga pong magkakaroon ng pagkakataong mahinog at maunawaan ang tunay na lalim ng pagkapinuno. Sa akin pong paniniwala, itong tatlo, kung magkakasama-sama ay talagang matinding tambalan. Doon po, sa ngayon, ay hindi pa tayo nagtatagumpay,” Aquino said.

While they shared a common goal, he said they don’t have exactly the same mind on how they would do it.

“Tiwala akong mulat din kayo: Napakalaki ng nakataya para ipaubaya sa “baka sakali.” Marahil may nag-isip: Baka ‘yung iba, kayang ituloy ang nasimulan natin. Baka ‘yung iba, kayang panagutin ang mga tiwali. Baka ‘yung iba, maituloy ang pag-angat ng ekonomiya at mapalawak ang serbisyong panlipunan. Baka ‘yung iba, manatili sa tuwid na daan,” said the President.

“Ang sa akin lang po: Bakit tayo magpapaakit sa “baka,” kung meron namang sigurado? Liwanagin ko lang po, ‘yung siguradong tinutukoy natin, hindi ‘yung siguradong tiwali sa ating Daang Matuwid. So, ano ho ‘yung siguradong kinausap natin at sigurado tayo? Number 1: Siguradong may kakayahan; siguradong walang ibang Boss kundi ang taumbayan, siguradong walang ibang pinagkakautangan ng loob, siguradong walang ibang interes kundi ang bayan.”

Aquino’s remark greeted a loud cheer from Roxas’ supporters, friends, and family who were present during the event.

“Roxas na!! Roxas na!!!” the crowd repeatedly chanted.

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