The helpless have been hurt during campaign period – Roxas

With the campaign period coming into the final stretch, administration presidential candidate Mar Roxas took a moment to look back at the last two months during the third and final PiliPinas Debates 2016 on Sunday at the PHINMA University of Pangasinan in Dagupan City.

 

Roxas in his closing speech pointed out that too many sectors were hurt during the campaign period.

 

“Patapos na ang kampanya. Panghuling debate na ito. The campaign is winding down. It has been vicious and divisive. Maraming mga nasaktan, kababaihan, LGBT, people with disabilities, senior citizens—madalas ang mga pinakawalang kalaban-laban,” he explained.

 

The statement seemed to be aimed at Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte who has become globally infamous for his controversial remarks during the campaign period.

 

Duterte, during an April 12 rally in Quezon City, seemed to say that he should have been the first person to rape an Australian missionary who was killed in a Davao City prison riot in 1989. 

 

He also called Roxas “bayot” or gay  numerous times, often characterizing the Liberal Party bet as a weakling.

 

Duterte also made disabled seniors the butt of his joke during a rally in Kalibo, Aklan on April 20.

 

“But this is not who we are as a people," Roxas meanwhile argued. "We are a generous people. We are warm. We are loving. Mapagbigay tayo. Ang magulang, isusubo na lang, ibibigay pa sa anak. We do it because we want our children to have more and they deserve more.” 

 

He also warned of candidates who would use the nation's frustrations just to lure the electorate to pick them.

 

“Ang iba gagamitin ang ating frustration para lokohin tayo, para makalimutan natin na malayo na ang narating natin, para makalimutan natin kung sino tayo bilang Pilipino, para makalimutan natin na ang tunay at makabuluhang pagbabago, hindi nakakamit sa paninisi, sa pang-iinsulto, o sa pang-soundbite lamang,” he said. 

 

His rivals often speak against the establishment, pointing out the failures of the government. But Roxas went back to the core of his campaign: to continue and improve what the government had started.

 

“Nangyayari ito dahil tinatrabaho, and this is what the elections have come down to—the talkers versus the doers; those that bring out the worst in us versus those that bring out the best in us; those ‘yung mga susunugin lahat ng pinaghirapan natin, kontra doon sa mga magdidilig at magbabantay sa mga itinanim natin,” he said. — DVM, GMA News