MANILA – Capiz native Manuel “Mar” Roxas II has made his political comeback official as he filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) for the 2019 senatorial elections.
The former Department of Interior and Local Government secretary filed his COC on Tuesday – a day before the filing period ends – at the Commission on Elections central office in Intramuros, Manila.
“Apart from pride, may dahilan ba na hindi ako mag-extend ng helping hand? Wala,” Roxas said. “And so here we are…I won’t quit on our country.”
Roxas, who lost in the 2016 presidential elections, added: “Kung sa tingin ‘nyo makakatulong pa ako, handa ako. Ino-offer ko muli ang sarili ko sa inyo, at hinihingi ko rin ang tulong ‘nyo dahil ‘di ko kaya ito nang nag-iisa.”
It took a while for him to decide to run for public office again, stressed Roxas, who also lost the 2010 vice presidential elections.
“Crisis of conscience ang nangyari sa akin. Pero nakita ko rin na simple lang ito: Tapos na ba ang trabaho? Mang-iiwan ba ako?” he added. “Mahal ko ba ang bansa natin? Oo. May maitutulong ba ako? Oo. Apart from disappointment, may dahilan ba na ipagkait ko ang tulong ko sa mga nangangailangan? Wala.”
Roxas, a former president of the Liberal Party, was a Cabinet member during the time of former presidents Joseph Estrada, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Benigno Simeon Aquino III.
He had also landed a seat in Senate when he won in 2004./PN
