Mar Roxas urged to run for president in 2028 polls

Caloocan 2nd District Rep. Edgar Erice is pushing for fellow Liberal Party member and former Interior secretary Mar Roxas to run for president in the 2028 national elections.

“I’m convincing Mar Roxas to run,” Erice said, according to Darlene Cay’s “24 Oras” report on Monday.

He added that other people are also trying to convince Roxas to run for president.

“Sa pagkakakilala ko sa kanya, mahal niya ang bayan at hindi siya tatanggi sa tawag ng bayan,” Erice said when asked if Roxas is open to running in the 2028 poll.

(From what I know about him, he loves the country and would not refuse the call of the nation.)

In 2016, Roxas lost the presidential post to former president Rodrigo Duterte, something that Erice admitted Roxas was hurt.

“Alam mo ’yang si Mar Roxas, parang ’yang nanligaw, na-basted, masakit ’yung pagkaka-basted sa kanya, pero sa nangyayari sa bayan natin, dahil mahal niya ang bayan natin, abay nasasaktan 'yan. At pag tinawag mo ’yan, lalaban siya para sa bayan,” the lawmaker said.

(Mar Roxas is like someone who courted someone and got rejected. The rejection hurt him deeply, but because of what is happening in our country and his love for it, he is also affected by it. And if you call on him, he will fight for the country.)

GMA News is seeking comment from Roxas on the matter, but he has yet to respond.

Meanwhile, Erice said former Vice President Leni Robredo has made it clear she does not want to run in 2028 and should not be forced to do so.

Vice President Sara Duterte previously said she intends to run for president in the 2028 elections. She is currently facing impeachment complaints.

“Pag na-impeach si Vice President Sara, ang maglalaban ay yung dilaw at pula. Kaya nga mas maganda na hindi ma-impeach eh dahil walang kandidato yung pula. Dilaw lang kami."

(If Vice President Sara is impeached, the race will be between the ‘yellows’ and the ‘reds.’ That’s why it’s better if she is not impeached, because the ‘reds’ won’t have a candidate. It would only be us ‘yellows.)
— Mariel Celine Serquiña/BAP, GMA News