Aquino praises for Roxas, an endorsement?

DILG Secretary and Liberal Party frontrunner for 2016 Mar Roxas with Pres. Noynoy Aquino (Photo from Roxas’ official Facebook page)

MANILA — President Aquino made a special mention of Interior Secretary Mar Roxas during his State of the Nation Address (Sona).

Aquino praised Roxas for his efforts despite criticisms raised against him for his job in the local government and the police force.

“Kay Secretary Mar Roxas: Nasa loob o labas ka man ng gobyerno, hindi tumigil sa panlalait sa iyo ang mga kalaban ng Daang Matuwid. Dahil nga may bilang ka, dahil talagang may ibubuga ka, nagpupursigi silang ibagsak ka. Palibhasa hindi nila kayang iangat ang sarili, kaya pilit ka nilang ibinababa,” Aquino said.

(To secretary Mar Roxas: Whether your in or outside the government, the critics of Daang Matuwid (straight path) did not stop throwing criticisms against you. Because you count, and because there is so much more you can do, they are persistent in putting you down. They keep puling you down because they can not put themselves up.)

“Sa patuloy nilang paninira, ang mga kritiko mo na rin ang nagpapatunay na takot sila sa angkin mong integridad, husay, at kahandaan sa trabaho. Mar, pinatutunayan mo: You can’t put a good man down. Tulad ng pagtitiwala ng nanay at tatay ko, magtiwala kang alam ng taumbayan kung sino ang tunay na inuuna ang bayan, bago ang sarili,” the President added.

(With the continuous criticisms raised against you, your critics have proven that they are afraid of your integrity, skills and readiness for the job. Mar, you have proven that one can’t put a good man down. Just like the way my parents have placed their trust on the people, have faith that they know the people who put the country first before personal interests.)

For Transportation Secretary and Liberal Party (LP) acting president Joseph Abaya, Aquino’s words do not signify endorsement yet.

In an interview after the Sona, Abaya said the praises for Roxas were for the efforts he did and for a job well done.

He said that it would be too early to say that it already signified an endorsement for the President.

“Pasasalamat yun sa serbisyo naibigay ni Secretary Roxas… Hindi yun endorsement. Iba po yun. It was a sincere honest to goodness appreciation for the help and sacrifices given by Secretary Roxas not only for the President but for the country,” Abaya said of Roxas.