Villar’s ally to Sen. Mar: Go back to Capiz and unite allies
ROXAS CITY – Sen. Mar Roxas’ political allies who are quarreling within the Liberal Party (LP) in Capiz is one of the reasons why the senator’s rating was nailed on the number 5 prompting him to decide not to run for president. As such, businessman Erin Azarraga, a known ally of presidentiable Sen. Manny Villar, urges Roxas to go back to Capiz and unite his political allies.
Azarraga even urged the senator to slide down to the vice presidency and be the running mate of Sen. Villar.
“If Sen. Roxas’s people are united, then, he has a solid ground that boosted him in determining to run as president,” the businessman said.
Azarraga also said that the senator should drop the strategy or concept of divide and conquer in order to rule.
But allies of Sen. Mar Roxas praised him for his supreme sacrifice not for himself but for the nation.
1st District Cong. Antonio del Rosario said that he was sad but “we are proud of Sen. Mar Roxas who showed his statesmanship by sacrificing himself not to run for president but for the Filipinos to reform.”
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 in 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?
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.