STATEMENT OF LIBERAL PARTY PRESIDENT SENATOR MAR ROXAS ON THE ELECTION CASE VS BULACAN GOVERNOR JONJON MENDOZA

"The Liberal Party is angered and dismayed over the Comelec decision denying Bulacan Governor Jonjon Mendoza's motion for reconsideration regarding the recount of ballots over his 2007 triumph as governor of the province.

"This is another blatant attempt by the Arroyo Administration to muzzle the true Opposition and to prevent the imminent people's victory in the coming elections. It stinks of trapo tactics: harassment and subverting the people's will in order to serve the president's cronies and minions.

"Duly elected by the people of Bulacan during the May 2007 election, Gov. Mendoza has been serving the people of Bulacan as governor for three years without any indication that this case against him in the Comelec will gain any ground.

"Suddenly, after his Partido Del Pilar decided to align itself with LP, the Comelec Decision favoring known administration ally Roberto M. Pagdanganan was immediately promulgated.

"While we in the Party condemn this decision, this recent turn of events was not unexpected. The past decade is rife with examples of this administration's wanton abuse of power. We had anticipated that such attempts to corrupt our democratic institutions will only intensify as elections draw near.

"To the citizens of Bulacan: rest assured that Sen. Noynoy and I, and the rest of the Liberal Party, will not be cowed by the Arroyo regime's bullying tactics. We vow to stand our ground in this fight for genuine change and reform. We will exhaust all possible means to bring a fair, people-oriented solution to this matter. We will take our fight to the Supreme Court.

"Hindi po namin kayo pababayaan. Tuloy ang laban!"