Press Release
November 28, 2009

ROXAS: "BAYAN BAGO ANG SARILI. KAYO BAGO AKO"

"Sama-sama po tayo, hinding-hindi po namin kayo pababayaan - dahil naniniwala kami sa bayan, bago ang sarili. Kayo, bago kami. Lalaban tayo!"

With this battle cry, Sen. Manuel "Mar" Roxas II today declared his fight for reforms and good governance as he and Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III filed their certificates of candidacy as the Presidential and Vice Presidential standard bearers, respectively, of the Liberal Party.

Aquino and Roxas were accompanied by the senatorial candidates composing the "People's Reform" Coalition and who are former Senate President Franklin Drilon, former Socioeconomic Planning Sec. Ralph Recto, Muntinlupa Rep. Rozzano "Ruffy" Biazon, Bukidnon Rep. Teofisto "TG" Guingona, former Bukidnon Rep. Nereus "Neric" Acost and guest candidates Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel and Sonia Roco of Aksyon Demokratiko.

Detained Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim had filed his CoC on Friday as an "adopted" candidate of the Liberal Party.

"Higit pa sa amin ni Noynoy o sa Partido Liberal ang labang ito. Ang labang ito ay tungkol sa pagka-uhaw at pag-asa nating lahat sa tunay na pagbabago at reporma. Tungkol ito sa Pilpinas na pinapangarap nating lahat. (This fight is not about Noynoy or the Liberal Party. This fight is about our collective thirst for change. This is about the new Philippines that we all dream about)," Roxas, who is the Liberal Party president, said before formally filing his CoC.

He promised: "Hindi po tayo aatras sa labang ito. Laban po ito ng bawat disenteng Pilipino. Ang laban ng tapat ay laban ng lahat. (We will not retreat from this fight. This is the fight of every decent Filipino. This fight is about honesty, integrity, decency and justice.) Napakarami na pong nagsakripisyo at nagdusa para sa laban nating ito (Many have sacrificed a lot for this fight.) It is now up to us to live up to their legacy. It is up to us to honor their memory."

Roxas has been the frontrunner in vice presidential surveys conducted by reputable polling firms Social Weather Stations (SWS) and Pulse Asia.

In the September 18-21 survey conducted by SWS, the Visayan senator got a high 40% rating, which was 17% higher than the 23% rating that Vice President Noli de Castro and Sen. Loren Legarda got and the 13% rating that Sen. Chiz Escudero received.

De Castro has yet to announce his plans for the 2010 national elections. Legarda, on the other hand, has teamed-up as the vice presidential running-mate of Sen. Manuel Villar while Escudero has announced he was not seeking any elective post next year.

In the Pulse Asia survey, conducted from October 22 to 30, Roxas also grabbed the first place with 37%. He led the other vice presidentiables in several geographic areas and socio-economic classes by as much as 32% to 49%. His closest rival got a mere 23% vote from the respondents.

"Maraming salamat po sa suporta na buong-buo ninyong ipinagkaloob sa akin. Maraming salamat po sa pakikiisa sa laban natin para sa tuwid, sa tapat at sa tama. Maraming salamat po sa paniniwala at pagtitiwala...lubos ang pagpapahalaga at pagpapakumbaba ko sa tiwalang ibinibigay ninyo sa akin (I am grateful for your support. Thank you for being part of this fight for honesty integrity and decency. Thank you for your trust. I am humbled by your belief in me.) I am humbled to put your interests above mine," Roxas said.

News Latest News Feed