Roxas: PNoy's endorsement ‘a big thing’

Interior Secretary Mar Roxas on Thursday said he considers President Benigno Aquino III's endorsement a big thing even if critics doubt it will cause his survey ratings to improve.

 

Speaking at the sidelines of the League of the Provinces of Philippines' General Assembly in Pasig City, Roxas said Aquino's endorsement was important to him because he considers the president as the "father" of "Daang Matuwid (straight path)."

 

"Napakalaking bagay ito (endorsement). May nagsasabing hindi ito importante pero simula't sapul pa lang, sinabi ko na na bilang ama ng 'Daang Matuwid,' bilang arkitekto at manggagawa dito sa 'Daang Matuwid' ay napakahalaga na ang pangulo mismo ang nagsasabi na sa pananaw niya, 'sa iyo ko ipapasa ang bandilang ito,'" he said.

 

Aquino officially endorsed Roxas as the administration's standard bearer on July 31 in a "Gathering of Friends" at Club Filipino.

 

Asked if there was ever a time when he doubted whether the president would endorse him, Roxas said: "Hindi naman ako presumido (presumptive)."

 

The Interior secretary shared that after giving way to Aquino's presidential bid in 2009, he told the then-senator to take his time in choosing a running mate he would be comfortable with though Roxas was already considered the natural choice for the post.

 

"[Sinabi ko noon na] 'ngayong nagparaya ako, ikaw ngayon ang magwawagayway ng bandila at pwersa ng reporma ay maging kumportable ka. Kung sa darating na linggo o buwan ay type mo pa rin ako, then mag-usap tayo ulit.' It's not being primadonna, pero siya ang pinuno natin noong kampanya 'yun at hanggang sa ngayon," he said. 

 

Roxas ran as the Liberal Party's vice-presidential candidate im the 2010 elections but lost to then-Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay.

 

In a separate interview, Liberal Party stalwart and Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said Aquino's endorsement is a boost to any candidate's presidential bid.

 

"You're referring here to a president who's exiting as the most trusted and most accomplished president since Martial Law," he said.

 

Senator Sergio Osmeña III earlier expressed doubt that Aquino's endorsement will help Roxas' ratings improve unless Sen. Grace Poe shelves her rumored plan to run for president.

 

Osmeña said Roxas’ latest survey ratings, which hover at around 10 percent, presumably includes the votes expected from Aquino’s supporters since he has long been tagged as the administration’s standard bearer even before the endorsement.

 

Poe has yet to announce her political plans though Roxas has admitted to asking the senator to be his running mate. 

 

More than the prestige that comes with being the president, Roxas said he wants to be elected to the highest office in the land because he wants to continue the "Daang Matuwid."

 

"Para sa akin, ang mahalaga ay 'yung Daang Matuwid. Mas dama kong harapin ang aking mga ninuno na masasabi ko na isinulong ko kung ano ang tamaat ipinaglaban ko ang ating mga kababayan," he said.

 

Roxas said he will soon give a series of policy speeches where he will outline his plans for the country for the next six years. — JDS, GMA News