Roxas camp denies spreading rumors on Duterte’s illness

MANILA, Philippines –  Liberal Party (LP) standard bearer Manuel Roxas II said yesterday he would not resort to a smear campaign as he denied allegations his camp had a hand in spreading rumors that Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has throat cancer.

Roxas said he would never wish anyone to have such illness because his late father, former senator Gerry Roxas, and brother Gerardo, both died of cancer.

“My family suffered through two tragedies due to cancer. I will never wish it be visited on any one, much more so to Mayor Digong Duterte whom I regard as my friend,” Roxas said.

“I have always subscribed to the principle that how you campaign is how you will govern. We are pushing for the straight path policy and not smear campaigning,” he added.

Duterte admitted that he was hurt by the cancer rumors.

He did not file his candidacy for president despite the clamor from his supporters, saying he would like to stay in Davao City where he served for several decades as mayor.

In an interview over dzMM on Friday, Duterte said he has yet to choose a presidential candidate to support in 2016.

Duterte said Roxas might not be fit to become the country’s president for resorting to black propaganda against him.

The mayor expressed dismay that someone allied with Roxas was behind the smear campaign against him for fears he might run for president. – With Paolo Romero