Mar remains optimistic, thanks supporters

ROXAS CITY, Capiz, Philippines – A “serene and optimistic” Liberal Party (LP) presidential candidate Manuel Roxas II cast his vote here after waging what he said was a clean and straight campaign anchored on continuation of the Aquino administration’s policies and programs.

Roxas thanked his supporters for remaining steadfast with him and his runningmate Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo during the 90-day campaign that ended on Saturday.

“I’m very serene, optimistic, I’m at peace with myself. I know we did everything we could. We ran a campaign clean and straight. We presented our character, our platform and plans for our countrymen and in the end, I know the deserving will win,” Roxas told reporters here after casting his vote.

“We gave our all until the end, fighting for our principles,” he added. 

The LP standard bearer arrived at the Roxas airport at past 7 a.m. with his wife, broadcaster Korina Sanchez, from Manila. The couple proceeded to an eatery in a public market where they had breakfast of soup and rice. 

From there, Roxas proceeded to the Rufina Andrada Memorial School to vote. He smiled and waved for a few minutes to supporters in the school. He was registered as voter number 146 in precinct 0228A of Barangay Poblacion 5. 

There were no glitches in the vote counting machine when he inserted his ballot, but the classroom was stifling and was swarming with scores of journalists that irritated voters, who jostled around.

One female voter seated in front of Roxas fainted and had to be carried out.

After casting his ballot, Roxas shook hands and had selfies with voters and people milling around the school. 

“This fight is exciting. I think this is going to be won on the ground. We believe the good will emerge victorious,” Sanchez told reporters while her husband was inside the polling precinct. 

From the school, the couple proceeded to a coffee shop where they were joined by Roxas’ son Paolo. They then went to Roxas’ residence where they had lunch with his mother Judy Araneta Roxas and other relatives and supporters.

Roxas said so far he has been receiving positive news from his political network around the country, which has been giving him and Robredo strength and peace.

He also dismissed allegations of rigging or cheating by the administration coming from his rivals, who have been “spewing lies and fabrications” that he said were ignored by Filipinos. 

He said his rivals have been claiming they were assured of winning yet they continue to attack him, apparently an admission that he is their most serious threat.

“This (elections) is not about me or other candidate. This is about our people,” he said, adding that the large voter turnout showed that Filipinos “embraced democracy and have invested in this.”

Meanwhile, Robredo said yesterday she felt excited casting her vote and expressed optimism that she would win in vice presidential race.

“I feel OK. Actually, I feel nervous whenever I talk to someone who’s nervous too,” Robredo told reporters after voting. “There’s nothing we can do at this point but pray.”

“I feel light. Towards the end of the campaign, I felt that way. The campaign ended on a very high note for me,” she added.

It took more than an hour before Robredo and her two daughters Aika and Tricia were able to cast their ballots at around 11 a.m. in Tabuco Elementary School in Naga City after the vote counting machine in precinct 119 malfunctioned.

She thanked all those who supported her, especially the tireless volunteers who were with her even when she was virtually unknown.

LP has ‘no advantage to cheat’

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. yesterday assured the public that the LP does not have an “advantage to cheat” in the elections despite the coalition’s machinery.

Belmonte said he remains hopeful that the allies of LP would help carry their candidates to win their respective seats in the elections.

“Liberal Party machinery, of course, is a given. The party is still very held together and we have many allies. The basic machinery of the party is functioning well and will make a difference,” he said in an interview.

He also noted that while the LP is hopeful their candidates will win, it is still their duty as elected members of Congress to support whoever presidential candidate will win in the elections.

Belmonte is running for his third and final term as representative of the fourth district of Quezon City.

Belmonte said his voting experience yesterday was “personally OK” with the whole process taking only about five minutes.

The congressman had cast his vote at the Christ the King Seminary covered court in Barangay Kristong Hari at 6:30 a.m.

But he said he had received reports of technical glitches marring vote counting machines as well as supporters of candidates campaigning at several precincts in the city. – With Romina Cabrera, Alexis Romero, Paolo Romero