MANILA, Philippines – A struggle for relevance.

Liberal Party standard-bearer Manuel Roxas II dismissed rival Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s newest tirades against him anew, calling them a “desperate attempt to regain public attention and political mileage.”

“He used to say that I’m very capable, that I’m not corrupt. Now, he says all sorts of lies about me. So which is which, Digong,” said Roxas in a release from his camp on Monday, February 1.

Roxas was referring to Duterte’s recent statements calling him incompetent, based on his actions in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), one of the strongest storms to make landfall. Roxas then was interior secretary, among the key government officials who handled relief operations for Eastern Samar.

Speaking to media, Duterte said Roxas was the “most incompetent Filipino ever to aspire for the presidency.”

Duterte’s “desperation,” said Roxas, was clear. “At first, Duterte said that he did not want to debate with a candidate who is in the fourth place (in the surveys). But now, he is the one in fourth place.”

“Of course, he is struggling to stay relevant,” added the LP standard-bearer.

Roxas and Duterte are friends-turned-foes in an electoral battle that’s gearing up to be one of the fiercest in recent history. The two figured in a word war late last year after Roxas said the mayor’s claim that Davao City was the safest in the country was a myth.

Duterte shot back by saying Roxas lied about his Wharton degree. (READ: Wharton: Yes, Roxas is our ‘graduate’)

The verbal tussle escalated into a a slap challenge, a dare to a gun battle and eventually, a debate dare.

The rift started when Duterte accused Roxas of being behind rumors he had cancer, a claim Roxas denied. 

In the news release, Roxas said Duterte “has the character of picking only on lowly people but feels rattled when someone strikes back.”

If recent surveys are to be believed, Roxas and Duterte are statistically tied for 3rd in the presidential race. Roxas was once a cellar-dweller, registering only 4 percentage points at his lowest in early presidential preference polls.

The two trail behind Vice President Jejomar Binay and Senator Grace Poe – Roxas with 21 percentage points and Duterte with 20 percentage points. – Rappler.com