Roxas in campaign kickoff: 'Hindi tayo magpapatalo sa mga magnanakaw'

ROXAS CITY, Capiz — Surrounded by his supporters in his home province of Capiz, administration presidential candidate Manuel “Mar” Roxas II on Tuesday vowed not to be defeated by a corrupt opponent.

In his speech during the campaign kick-off of the Liberal Party (LP)-led Daang Matuwid coalition, Roxas said: "Kinabukasan natin ang nakataya dito, hindi basta basta ang laban na ito."

He added: "This is a fight worth fighting for. Hindi tayo magpapatalo sa mga abusado, sa mga manloloko at higit sa lahat hindi tayo magpapatalo sa mga magnanakaw."

Roxas was the first among the five presidential candidates to formally kick off his campaign on Tuesday, the first day of the campaign period for candidates seeking national posts.

A sea of yellow supporters of the Roxas-Robredo tandem start to gather at the Capiz gym @gmanews pic.twitter.com/nC9lSgKjI8

— Kaecee Alvarez (@kaeceealvarez) February 9, 2016

Roxas' statement echoed his recent advertisement, which was seen as an apparent criticism against his opponents, particularly Vice President Jejomar Binay.

Roxas was defeated in the 2010 vice-presidential elections by Binay, who was then mayor of Makati City. Binay is now running for president under the opposition banner United Nationalist Alliance.

Binay is facing plunder and graft charges over his alleged corrupt activities as city mayor.

Roxas, his running mate Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo, and the rest of the Daang Matuwid coalition senatorial candidates on Tuesday morning launched their campaign with no less than President Benigno Aquino III as their guest of honor.

Supporters who attended the 10 a.m. event at the Capiz gymnasium were dressed in yellow, LP's color. Several members of the Cabinet were also present, including Proceso Alcala (Agriculture), Dinky Soliman (Social Welfare and Development), Florencio “Butch” Abad (Budget and Management), Armin Luistro (Education), and Janette Garin (Health), among others.

"Tayo ang sundalo ng Daang Matuwid. Dilaw ang kulay ng ating prinsipyo, dilaw ang kulay ng ating paninidigan at dilaw ang kulay ang ating tagumpay," Roxas said in his speech.

The program, hosted by comedian Arnel Ignacio, also included performances from singers Jett Pangan and Jonalyn Viray, among others.

Capiz, the home province of Roxas, is the first stop of the LP-led coalition. They will make their way to the vote-rich province of Iloilo in the evening, with Aquino also gracing the event.

In his speech, Aquino urged voters of Capiz to continue his Daang Matuwid or straight path platform by supporting the Roxas-Robredo tandem.

"Kung epal, papogi at gusto lang manatili sa kapangyarihan ang kanyang nais, siguradong mababalewala ang lahat ng ating pinaghirapan... Mas masaklap kung pinaasa lang ang mga nasa laylayan," he said.

Drawing cheers from the crowd, Roxas began his speech in the local dialect, as he expressed gratitude towards his home province’s support for his candidacy. 

Roxas promised a nation wherein Filipinos will be free from hunger and fear. He also vowed to expand the coverage of the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program, the administration’s flagship anti-poverty measure.

Robredo, for her part, promised education and livelihood for Capiz residents.

"Sisiguraduhin ko na lahat tayo, kayang pag-aralin ang mga anak, magkaroon ng hanapbuhay, may seguridad sa trabaho at hindi kailangang iwan ang mga pamilya para makapaghanapbuhay lang," said the widow of the late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo.

Nearly all the senatorial candidates of the administration were present during the kick-off, with the lone exception being former TESDA Secretary Joel Villanueva, who held his own campaign launch at the Amoranto Stadium in Quezon City.

In a text message to GMA News Online, Villanueva said he will be joining the campaign launch in Iloilo. —KBK/JST, GMA News