Roxas seeks unity dialogue with Poe

Grace not withdrawing from race

MANILA, Philippines - With just two days left before the May 9 elections, Liberal Party standard-bearer Manuel Roxas II appealed yesterday to rival Sen. Grace Poe to “unite” with him against what he called a “looming dictatorship.” 

The administration presidential candidate made the appeal as trash-talking Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte continued to top the latest pre-election survey, with a voter preference of 33 percent in the last BusinessWorld-Social Weather Stations survey.

Poe, however, thumbed down last night Roxas’ appeal to merge forces. She said she will not betray the trust of her supporters who believe in her capacity to lead the country.

“Wala naman kasing dahilan para gawin yun (There’s no reason to do that),” she said.

The response of Duterte’s camp was swift. Senator and vice presidential bet Alan Peter Cayetano warned of a brewing “conspiracy between Sen. Grace Poe and administration bet Mar Roxas.”

Cayetano said that another part of the demolition job involved the airing over ABS-CBN of a negative political advertisement attacking him and Duterte. The political advertisement that featured children was paid for by Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, according to Cayetano. He said that the advertisements cost between P20 million to P30 million to air.

Another part, according to Cayetano, involved the uploading on YouTube of another negative political advertisement against him and Duterte.

In a hastily called press conference at the LP headquarters in Cubao, Quezon City, Roxas said, “I call for unity. I call for decency. I call for democracy. I call for the rule of law. I call on Sen. Grace Poe. Grace, mag-usap tayo (let’s talk).

“I will adjust schedules to your convenience. Sabihin mo lang kung saan at kailan at darating ako (Tell me when and where and I will be there). This is for unity. This is for our country. This is for our future,” he said. 

Roxas had just come from a gruelling campaign sortie in the Bicol region before issuing his statement.

He did not field questions from media, who wanted to ask him what was his concrete call for Poe, after the latest surveys showed her ratings declining.

Both Poe and Roxas are trailing Duterte with 22 percent and 20 percent, respectively, in the same poll. 

Poe said it was pointless to back out of the race at this late stage.

“Para sa akin, medyo katraydoran din na bigla na lang kami-kami lang ang magdedesisyon (It would be a betrayal if all of a sudden we would just decide among ourselves),” she said.

She instead challenged Roxas to withdraw from the race and divert support to her bid. She said there was nothing more for them to talk about if he wished her to give up the fight for the presidency.

Roxas said that citizens of goodwill from all walks of life are worried as uncertainty and the specter of a dictatorship are looming over the country once again. 

“They are concerned that damage is already being done to the country and our democracy,” he said. 

Roxas, who worked as an investment banker in the US, noted that the peso has dropped, affecting everything from the price of oil, medicine, steel and other imported goods, while investors are putting all their plans on hold. 

“After six years of the corrupt being on the run, we now face the possibility of a leader coming to power who cares nothing about honesty, integrity, transparency, responsibility or even just basic decency,” he said. 

“I believe – and everyone will agree – that the future of the country and our countrymen is more important than the political career of any politician or candidate,” he said.

Earlier this week, Roxas described Duterte as a “threat to our democratic system and our way of life” for his ties with communist rebels, his flouting the rule of law and his threats to abolish institutions such as Congress. 

The STAR earlier reported that Duterte’s rivals are meeting to stop him from bagging the presidency. 

A source said that Poe had sent feelers to those running the campaign of Roxas to agree on a concerted effort to “expose Duterte as unfit to be the president.” 

“We’re doing this for the sake of the country, which we don’t want to go to the dogs if Duterte wins,” the source said. 

The source claimed that both sides have “mutually agreed” to open discussions on the matter, and the campaigners of Roxas are set to meet to discuss the proposal. 

But the downside, the source said, was that Duterte might exploit the situation to portray himself as an underdog to gain sympathy and votes.

Anti-Duterte ad barred

Meanwhile, Taguig City Regional Trial Court Branch 69 Executive Judge Lorifel Lacap Pahimna issued a two-page temporary restraining order (TRO) that bars ABS-CBN from airing the political advertisement for 72 hours. The TRO was issued yesterday afternoon.

“A cursory viewing of the subject advertisements would allegedly show the intention to injure the reputation, credit and virtue of petitioner, his runningmate and their tandem, and expose them to public hatred, discredit, contempt and ridicule without giving them the right to reply. Since the last day of campaign is on May 7, 2016, it would thus be impossible to prepare, shoot and air an ad to counter these false and defamatory ads against them. Hence, the petitioner posited that these advertisements will allegedly undoubtedly cause irreparable damage and will work injustice to petitioner, his runningmate Mayor Duterte and the voting public,” the court’s order read.

The court also said that minors are being used in the ad. “Thus, it must be suppressed at once, as repeated broadcasting of the same will be irreparably inimical to the children’s welfare and interest.”

Named as respondents in the case are ABS-CBN executives Eugenio Lopez III, Augusto Almeda Lopez, Carlo Katigbak, Socorro Vidanes and August Benitez.

In its order, the court said that under Section 2, Article 8, of the 2007 Broadcast Code, no program or sponsor shall be allowed to manifestly favor or oppose a candidate.

“And thus, the court cannot allow minor children to be used in such black propaganda. Furthermore, there is no truth to the claim that petitioner’s right to reply will be denied considering that the election day is so close now,” the court order added.

The court scheduled the raffle of the case on May 16 at 2 p.m.

Cayetano said that despite the negative political advertisements, he and Duterte remain unfazed.

“In fact we are not worried or afraid of the ads,” he said.

“I am confirming to you that this is a conspiracy between the Palace, Grace Poe, Mar Roxas, their supporters and some groups, and of course with the participation of people in the management of a network,” Cayetano added.  – With Mike Frialde, Christina Mendez