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PNoy, Mar Roxas arrive together at LP ‘show of force’; ‘Erap’ shows up


(UPDATED 7:00 P.M.) President Benigno Aquino III arrived with his anointed presidential candidate Interior Secretary Mar Roxas at the gathering of Liberal Party members and supporters in Greenhills, San Juan on Tuesday past noon.

Aquino and Roxas, his running mate in the 2010 elections, were joined by LP stalwarts Budget Secretary Florencio Abad and Senate President Franklin Drilon, and Justice Secretary Leila De Lima.

De Lima has been reported to be considering a senatorial candidacy with the ruling party.

At the table they were joined by LP members and potential vice presidential candidates Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos and Camarines Rep. Leni Robredo.

Folk singer Noel Cabangon, a friend of Aquino's, was singing when the President and Roxas arrived at the venue. Roxas promptly joined Cabangon onstage to sing with him.

Roxas then went over to Aquino at the table and brought him to the stage to join the singing.

The attendees were surprised when hosts Siquijor Vice Governor Dingdong Avanzado and his wife Jessa Zaragoza announced that "President Mayor Erap Estrada" was present at the gathering.

Apparently it was not the real Erap Estrada but impersonator Willie Nepomuceno.

Local officials

Some 1,200 local officials attended the event dubbed as “Ituloy ang Tuwid na Daan” to show support for Roxas who was endorsed by Aquino as his successor in 2010.

“This is a show of support for Secretary Mar Roxas. He is the best choice to be the next president. Ipinakita ni Sec Mar Roxas na ang integridad, pagpapakumbaba, at pagssakripisyo para sa kapakanan ng kanyang mga pinaglilingkuran  ay buod ng kanyang pagkatao,” another host Pangasinan Rep. Rachel Arenas said at the start of the program.

“Hindi madali ang laban na ito subalit sa  inyong matibay na paglahok at mahalagang suporta, siguradong sama-sama nating mailuluklok si Mar Roxas bilang susunod na pangulo ng Republika ng Pilipinas,” she added.

Before Aquino and Roxas arrived at the venue, several local officials and organization went to the stage to express support for the Interior secretary.

ARMM support

Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Adiong Jr said the whole Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao will root for Roxas.

"Nandito kami para suportahan ang kandidatura ni Secretary Mar. Roxas na po ang ARMM," he said in his speech.

A-Teacher party-list Rep. Juliet Fortuna said a coalition of party-lists in the House of Representatives, with 40 members, agreed to support Roxas.

Albay Governor Joey Salceda said all the mayors of the province were present at the gathering to support Roxas.

"I want to show that Albay ang may pinakamalaking delegation dito. Wala ho kaming absent. Naniniwala ako sa kakayahan ni Mar Roxas para ipagpatuloy ang Tuwid na Daan at i-level up ang gains at i-harvest ang dividend ng bureaucratic discipline," he said.

Local execs organized show of force

He also recalled the days he was with Roxas and they were fighting for cheaper medicines in Cancun.

Salceda also said that he is willing to talk with Albay Rep. Grex Lagman to ensure the victory of Roxas.

"Grex kahit na hindi tayo nag-uusap sa Albay, dito mag-uusap tayo," he said.

Caloocan City Rep. Edgar Erice said it was the mayors, governors, councilors, barangay officials who helped organize the event.

Asked on their participation in the event, Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista, president of the League of Cities, just said: ”tumulong kami.”

Also present were members of Liga ng mga Barangay, Philippine Councilors’ League, Governors League, and other member leagues of Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines.  

Time for unequivocal support

House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales believed that such show of force for Roxas can be expected in the coming months.

“Dumating na tayo sa panahon na wala nang patumpik-tumpik dito, pantayan nila yung ginagawa ng mga taong nagmamalasakit at nagsusuporta kay Mar,” he told reporters.

He even dared those who will belittle the show of force for Roxas to organize their own and show it to the people.

“As you will note, hindi lang mga Liberal ang mga nandyan, may mga taga-ibang partido. Part lang ito ng call it a show of force, kahit na ano. Ang mahalaga dito, kung ang tingin nila mamaliitin nila ang ginagawang ito e di magpakita rin sila ng mga supporters nila para magkaalaman.  At the very least ipinapakita ni Mar Roxas na may mga sumusuporta sa kanya at hindi lang kathang isip kundi nakikita mo na tao,” he said.

Roxas, in his speech during the event, described Gonzales as “my first and oldest friend in the political world.”

PNoy unaware of LP gathering

He added that the President was not aware of the event but when he came to know about it, he decided to attend.

“Ang Pangulo, nang malaman niyang andito kayong lahat., binago po niya ang kanyang schedule para makasama po siya dito sa ating salo salo.  Ganunpaman kailangan ng ating Pangulo na makabalik sa kanyang mga trabaho,” he said.

Roxas said that he did not expect to see such a big crowd.

“Ang sabi sa akin ay munting salu-salo lang ito,” he said. -NB, GMA News
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