Support for Mar snowballs in Western Mindanao

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - Support for the presidential bid of Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel "Mar" Roxas is gaining momentum in Zamboanga peninsula following his anointment by President Benigno Aquino III as the administration candidate for the 2016 polls.

Party mate Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar said the local Liberal Party (LP) will toe in and strongly support the candidacy of Roxas for president.

“As party members, it is our duty to give our strong support to whoever is chosen by the party leadership notwithstanding Secretary Roxas, who is also a strong supporter of the city,” Salazar said.

Salazar attended last week’s proclamation of Roxas as the standard bearer of the ruling Liberal Party.

Political leaders in Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga del Norte, including Zamboanga Sibugay provinces were also delighted with the proclamation, expressing support through the use of local political machinery to ensure the victory of Roxas.

Zamboanga Sibugay Gov. Wilter Palma said the party machinery in his province is well established and a number of leaders represent LP in the nearby provinces.

Palma said that their support to Mar is not for the sake of the administration.

“It’s not just for Mar and President Noy but for the people who hoped so much for a continued leadership,” Palma said.