Liberal Party chairman President Benigno S. Aquino III attends the “Daang Matuwid: To Be Continued…” of the ruling Liberal Party (LP) at the Corazon C. Aquino Kalayaan Hall of the Club Filipino in San Juan City on Monday (October 05, 2015). Also in photo are LP Presidential Candidate former DILG Secretary Manuel Roxas II and wife Korina Sanchez-Roxas; LP Vice Presidential Candidate Camarines Sur 3rd District Representative Maria Leonor Robredo and daughters Jessica Marie and Janine Patricia Robredo. (MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) — For hurling repeated criticisms against him, administration standard bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II on Friday said Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte appears to be his “number one fan.”
Roxas said Duterte, his friend-turned-foe, has focused his campaign on targeting his character.
“‘Yan ang number 1 fan ko eh. Wala na siyang nakita kung hindi si Mar Roxas,” he said.
“Kami, [ang] pinag-uusapan namin saan kayo dadalhin,” Roxas added, touting how he plans to continue the “Daang Matuwid” program of President Benigno Aquino III, his fellow Liberal Party member.
Duterte had claimed that Roxas had a nervous breakdown as Interior Secretary during Typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) in 2013. The worst storm ever to make landfall, Yolanda hit the country on November 8, 2013, affecting over 1.4 million families and killing around 6,300 people.
“Mar Roxas got the scare of his life during Yolanda,” Duterte said. “I was there on Day Two. Si Mar nagka-breakdown.”
“I was there. I was talking to him. Nag-mo-monologue siya,” he said. “He was not acting like a person who was in charge of a disaster (relief operation), giving commands or critical orders.”
That same day, Roxas hit back at Duterte. “Ay siguro naman itong si kaibigan nating si Rody ay nagiging saling-pusa na naman na kung saan ay naghahanap ng paraan upang makabalik sa pagiging kabahagi ng usapin.”
Roxas’ allies also belied Duterte’s claim. Daang Matuwid coalition spokesperson and Akbayan Rep. Barry Gutierrez said that Roxas’ actions during Yolanda were well-documented and were “far more believable” than Duterte’s statements.
Roxas and Duterte have been in a heated exchange of words since late last year after they both announced their intentions to run for president. The war of words even escalated into “sampalan threats” where they both threatened to slap each other. (MNS)