MANILA, Philippines — Former senator and Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas will seek a post in the Upper House in next year’s election.
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The former Liberal Party president and standard-bearer withdrew from most public engagements after losing to President Rodrigo Duterte in the 2016 national polls.
But he said he has moved on since then.
"Well, unang-una ako naka-move on na ako. Kaya naging mahirap itong desisyon na ito ay dahil hindi basta-bastang parang patuloy lang. Ito yung gawain ko kahapon, ito yung gawain ko itong lingong, ito yung gagawin ko next week. E talagang lumabas na ako ng arena," he said.
Earlier: @MARoxas says 2016 presidential elections chapter is over. @PhilstarNews pic.twitter.com/otYlYeWz64
— Rosette Adel (@rosette_adel) October 16, 2018
He added that he had difficulty in deciding if he would return in the arena of public service.
"Masarap ang buhay ng retirado. Feeling ko tulad ng sinabi ko beterano na ako, nagsilbi na ako sa World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War. Pero palagay ko, kung mayroon mga mananakop na pumasok dito sa bansa natin kahit beterano na ako lalaban pa rin ako," he said.
"Di pa tapos ang trabaho, may mga problema pa. May mga maitutulong ka pa. Kaya sinabi ko na kung pakiwari ng mga kababayan natin na makakatulong pa ako handa ako."
Roxas placed in the 11-17 bracket in the pre-senatorial election survey released by Pulse Asia last month.
He served in the Senate from 2004 to 2010.
Before ending his speech he repeated what he said on Monday when he announced his bid to run: "I have no quit in me..."
"... and I'm not going to quit on our country," he said.
— Ian Nicolas Cigaral with Mikas Matsuzawa