Roxas in Cebu: ‘I didn’t make it, but I’m not sorry’

CEBU CITY, Philippines – In his first public appearance here after the May 2016 election, Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, standard-bearer of the Liberal Party (LP), said he was thankful to his Cebuano supporters despite his loss in the presidential race.

“I didn’t make it, but I am not sorry,” Roxas said. While he was disappointed with the outcome of the election, Roxas said he had no regrets. “I fought a good fight and all is worth it,” he said. Roxas met with his supporters who hosted a breakfast for him at the Laguna Garden Cafe in Cebu City.

The thanksgiving breakfast was organized by “The Silent Majority” group in Cebu, who campaigned for Roxas and his running mate Leni Robredo last May.

Robredo won 800,000 votes in the province, ranking first among vice presidential bets in Cebu. Roxas got 586,000 votes, second to now President-elect Rodrigo Duterte, who won 1.1 million votes in Cebu.

Cebu is the most vote-rich province in the country with 2.7 million votes. Prior to the last election, most leaders in Cebu were members of the Liberal Party.

In the 2010 election for vice president, Roxas won close to 700,000 votes in Cebu compared to Jejomar Binay’s 400,000 votes.

Roxas said he wanted to “personally thank” Cebuano voters and those who had campaigned for him. He also urged his supporters “not to give up the fight,” saying he would now be monitoring the Duterte government as a private citizen.

Roxas has been traveling to key cities nationwide to thank his volunteers and supporters. – Ryan Macasero/Rappler.com