MANILA, Philippines — Liberal Party’s standard-bearer Manuel "Mar" Roxas II indirectly criticized his four rivals in his 60-second opening statement at the presidential debate in Cagayan de Oro on Sunday.
Roxas compared choosing the country's president as choosing a driver for a child before alluding to what he perceived as the weak spots of Sen. Grace Poe, Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Jejomar Binay who shared the stage with him.
"Kanino natin ipagkakatiwala? Sa taong may kaso, sa taong mainitin ang ulo, sa taong ngayon pa lang natututo magmaneho, o sa taong ni minsan hindi kayo ipinahamak? Buo ang loob ko sa inyong pagpasya," Roxas said.
The candidates were given a minute deliver an opening statement, which they used to discuss their agenda.
Binay, main opposition leader, said he experienced poverty and therefore knows how to address the problem once president, claiming he did so while mayor of Makati City.
"Mula noon hanggang ngayon kahirapan pa rin ang problema ng ating bayan," Binay said.
Santiago used up her time to discuss why the country is poor despite its vast resources."Why are we so poor? Because everybody in the government wants the money in their own pocket," Santiago said.
Duterte, meanwhile, opened his brief address by backing Santiago, whom he called the only qualified presidential candidate besides himself.
Mindanao was the focus of Poe's opening statement, saying she will provide a third of government's budget to the region's development once president.
"Napakaganda ng Mindanao. Hindi lang natin dapat puntahan ito, dapat pasalamatan ito. Pinopropose namin, 30% ng aming budget at mapupunta dito sa Mindanao para sa agarang solusyon ng development," Poe said.
The Mindanao leg debate is the first among the three debates. The candidates are expected to be questioned about agriculture development, poverty reduction, charter change and peace and order.