Mom’s not mum: Roxas no comment on his mother’s ‘campaign’ efforts

MANILA — Interior Secretary and Liberal Party’s top presidential bet Mar Roxas said he “cannot comment” on his mother’s statements about his candidacy for the upcoming 2016 national election.

The Roxas matriarch, Judy Araneta-Roxas, recently hosted a dinner party in her family’s ancestral home in Bago City, Negros Occidental with the leaders of the sugar industry of Bacolod and even Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. During the party, she reportedly spoke fondly of her son Mar and his presidential bid next year.

It’s safe to say that almost everyone in the party took her statements as a confirmation that her son will run for president in 2016. Everyone, except Mar himself who said it’s nothing but “friendly chitchat.”

“The truth is, my mother is from there, she has many friends there. Perhaps her close friends, associates and relatives were talking about [the 2016 national elections] and other current events,” Roxas said. “I was not there so I cannot comment.”

Roxas said he hasn’t spoken with his mother, who is still in Capiz, regarding the issue.

Recently, President Benigno Aquino III confirmed that Roxas is still the Liberal Party’s standard bearer for the upcoming national polls. Roxas said he was “humbled” by PNoy’s confidence in him and he is ready to continue the administration’s programs to pursue the “Daang Matuwid” (straight path).