Roxas Gives Way, Sacrifices

by AMBROSIO R. VILLORENTE

"Country Above Self," Sen. Mar Roxas declared in a packed news conference held in Club Filipino, San Juan, Metro Manila on Tuesday evening, September 1. In the presence of Liberal Party stalwarts, Roxas announced, "Noy has made it clear to me that he wants to carry the torch of leadership".

"Noynoy and I want to make a difference, but we also know that we need to unite to achieve what we want," Roxas said.

Reading Sen. Roxas’ prepared statement, he declared "I see this as fuel to bring us to the realization of our dreams: Good will win over evil." This is about our people. This is about people and our country. We agreed, let us forget about ourselves." This refers to his conversation with Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino, III during the last few days after the death of the late president Corazon C. Aquino.

"I am supporting Noynoy," Roxas announced. "I do this for unity and in support of change. And that means that somebody must make a sacrifice. It must be me," Roxas said. "I began the campaign to saw the seeds of reform. You must now be the one to grow them in the arena of leadership." Roxas described the Philippines as a country "in disarray and a bankrupt leadership".

According to Roxas, Sen. Aquino "shares the same outrage over the mess we are all in the same way we share the solution: clean, honest, selfless public services."

As president of the Liberal Party, it is within my power to preside over a potentially divisive process or to make the party a bridge for focus of change. I choose to lead unity, not division", Roxas stressed.

"We need a determined force for good, for stronger than the festering evil around us. We need to fight just as our own fathers fought dictatorship and just as both died believing that good will conquer evil," Roxas pointed out.

Manny Villar

Meanwhile, Sen. Manny Villar is not about to support Noynoy Aquino, according to the Nationalista Party spokesperson Gilbert Remulla. He believes the things going on in the Liberal Party is an internal party matters best left to the Liberal Party.

However, Sen. Francis Pangilinan is willing to set aside his candidacy for Vice President "if necessary to have a strong force for change that will support Sen. Aquino."

On the other hand, Makati Mayor Jijomar Binay proposed that the "opposition parties should now discuss the possibility of fielding a single standard bearer" in the May 2010 election.

Former president Joseph Estrada cong-ratulated Roxas for sacrificing his presidential ambition for the good of the Philippines. Estrada promised he "would try and reach out to the other presidential aspirants to build a united opposition for the forthcoming May 2010 national election." /MP