SORSOGON CITY, June 6 (PNA) — Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas defended anew Sen. Grace Poe against her critics questioning her background as a foundling.
In an ambush interview Friday, Roxas said the issue (of being a foundling) is a personal matter and has no connection at all with Poe’s possible candidacy.
UNA interim president and Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco earlier issued a barrage of exposes questioning Poe’s dual citizenship and her background as a foundling which, according to him, disqualifies her to run for the presidency.
When asked for a reaction regarding an UNA statement denying that the Binay camp was not responsible for the smear campaign against Poe and instead pointing its fingers to Roxas, he quickly roared “Wee” and told the media “I think records can speak well, specially the media.”
“The issue has no meaning and value,” Roxas said during Friday’s turnover of 14 police patrol jeeps to Sorsogon town police chiefs at the provincial capitol grounds here.
He said nobody could choose how he or she came out of this world or whether he or she would be born rich or poor or with parents or none.
“Ang tanong ay ano ang gagawin sa ating buhay na mai-aambag sa ating kababayan at bansa (The question is what we can do in our life to contribute something to our fellowmen and countrymen),” the DILG chief said.
Pressed by media as to when he would announce his candidacy for the presidency, Roxas was still evasive and instead thanked President Aquino “for the trust he has given me by including me in the list of candidates for president he will endorse in the upcoming 2016 presidential election.
“Tinatangap ko ito, hindi lang para sa akin, kinikilala ng ating Pangulo na ipagpatuloy ang Daang Matuwid at mga programa na magpapaunlad ng ating bansa (I accept it, not only for me. Our President acknowledges that the Straight Path and programs for the development of our country should continue),” he said.
Roxas also held a dialogue with members of the COMPRE, a civil society organization in the province.
He then proceeded to Prieto Diaz town and inaugurated the Php4-million Salin-Tubig project there. (PNA)