Mar Roxas: The fight is not over yet

MANILA, Philippines — Despite trailing in pre-election surveys, Liberal Party (LP) presidential candidate Manuel “Mar” Roxas II is still confident of a victory in the upcoming polls, saying many voters are still undecided or may still change their minds.

 

“Ang punto ay hindi pa tapos ang laban (The point is the fight is not over yet),” Roxas told reporters after the third presidential debate in Dagupan, Pangasinan last Sunday.

 

“This is not about popularity, this is about who should run our country—who should be our president,” he added.

 

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Roxas claimed voters are “still window shopping” and that about 25 percent of them are “still shifting ground.”

 

“I can see that in the end, our countrymen will say that this is not about entertainment, this is not for amusement. This is a serious matter and the next six years would be put to waste if we choose the wrong person,” he said.

 

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Despite his aggressive campaigning and the endorsement of President Benigno Aquino III, Roxas continues to be a laggard in presidential surveys.

 

He ranked third in the latest Social Weather Station poll with 19 percent behind frontrunner Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte (33 percent), and Sen. Grace Poe (24 percent).

 

Vice President Jejomar Binay, who defeated Roxas in the 2010 vice presidential race, ranked fourth with 14 percent. Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago, who did not hold sorties during the most part of the campaign period due to an illness, was chosen by two percent of the respondents.

 

Roxas is hopeful that the recently concluded presidential debate would help improve his numbers.

 

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Akbayan Rep. Ibarra Gutierrez, spokesman of the LP-led Koalisyon Daang Matuwid, said Roxas continues to enjoy a strong support base. While Roxas has yet to top any presidential survey, Gutierrez claimed that more Filipinos are coming out to support the LP standard bearer.

 

“It is the strength of this same base that we trust will give Mar a game-changing surge in these last two weeks. The latest survey shows his numbers are steady,” Gutierrez said.  

 

“The momentum is with him (Roxas) for the last leg of the campaign. Our base is fired up, our supporters are mobilizing, and we are confident Mar and (LP vice presidential bet Camarines Sur Rep.) Leni (Robredo) will win on May 9,” he added.