Mar’s decision draws mixed reactions from Capiz political leaders
ROXAS CITY – “It is sad but we are proud of Sen. Mar Roxas who showed his statesmanship by sacrificing himself not run for president but for the Filipinos to reform,” 1st District Cong. Antonio del Rosario said in a radio interview right after the pronouncement of the senator that he is quitting his presidential bid in Club Filipino in Manila last Tuesday night.
Board Member Esteban “Nonoy”Contreras said that the withdrawal of Sen. Roxas of his presidential bid will not affect the Liberal Party both national and local.
Board Member Alfonso Bediones, who also shared the same opinion, said that Sen. Roxas’s act was like that of his grandfather former president Manuel Roxas. “What our beloved Sen. Roxas has done is sacrificing himself believing that the country is above self.”
“He gave up to sacrifice for the sake of the country and not his personal interests,” Bediones said.
Provincial Administrator Zoe Herrera said that by sacrificing his personal ambition for his country, it only shows that Sen. Mar Roxas is a true statesman and not just a mere politician.
Dumarao Mayor Leslie Warren Benjamin said that they were surprised of Sen. Roxas’s decision.
“We are sad to know it. It’s a big chance for Capiz to have a presidentiable like Sen. Mar Roxas however, it was derailed,” Benjamen lamented.
According to him, as mayor of Dumarao, he will support Sen. Mar Roxas for whatever position he will run comes 2010 election.
Mambusao Mayor Jose “Joe” Alba said that it was an honest act for Sen. Mar Roxas saying that the senator could hardly solidify Capiz province how much more for LP?
Lawyer Nelson Borja said that it is not yet clear whether Noynoy would run for president. “It could be a political gimmick, in the end, it could be Mar Roxas again for president, except if it is true that Noynoy will declare that he is running, but I think he is not ready,” Borja said.
Former Governor Jose Borda also said that he lauds Sen. Roxas who showed his good leadership in LP.
Borda said that what Sen. Roxas has done is to unify the opposition, however, he still believed that the senator will still be running for president.
Last Tuesday evening, Roxas announced that he is giving way to Noynoy which he considered as the toughest decision in his life.
“We agreed, let us forget about ourselves,” he said of his conversations with Noynoy. “This is not about us. This is about our people and our country.”
“I do this for unity and in support of change. And that means that somebody must make a sacrifice. It must be me. Ako na,” Roxas said.