SORSOGON CITY, Philippines – After two days of busying himself with meetings and evading the media, the administration standard-bearer showed no signs of worry as he visited the home province of a senator who will be running for vice president alongside a different presidential candidate. 

Manuel Roxas II was in Sorsogon City on Friday, September 18, to attend a gathering of local politicians as well as forum hosted by a local college.

Sorsogon is the home province of Senator Francis Escudero, who on Thursday, September 17, announced he would be running as the vice president of Senator Grace Poe. 

Poe was once eyed by Roxas to be his running mate. 

Asked by if he was worried about Poe, who seems to be positioning herself not as an opposition bet but as an alternative to the administration ticket, Roxas said: “Why should I be worried? There’s only one Daang Matuwid and I’m on it.”

“Daang Matuwid” is the catchphrase for the current administration’s anti-corruption, transparency and good governance platform. It is also how the ruling Liberal Party (LP) and Roxas will prop its campaign, banking on the promises of continuity of the reforms President Benigno Aquino III started.

During her proclamation rally on Wednesday, September 16, Poe took a swipe at politicians who think “Daang Matuwid” is the monopoly of a specific group or party. Escudero said as much during his proclamation rally the next day. 

But for Roxas, the line between the administration’s “Daang Matuwid” and those who in other political affiliations is clear. 

“Ang ama ng Daang Matuwid, si Pangulong PNoy, ay nagsalita na. Nandito tayo sa Daang Matuwid at malaking karangalan para sa atin bilang inendorso niya na siyang subok na magpapatuloy ng Daang Matuwid [at] yan lang naman ang aking ipinaglalaban,” said Roxas in a chance interview with reporters.  (The father of the Daang Matuwid, President Benigno Aquino III, has already spoken. We are on the Straight Path and it’s a huge honor for me to be endorsed by the president as the candidate who has proven his capability to continue the Daang Matuwid and that’s what I’m fighting for.) 

Roxas added: “Kung ano ang sasabihin nila ay nasa sa kanila na iyon para depensahin. Tayo, malinaw na malinaw kung saan tayo nagmumula, kung saan tayo patungo at kung paano natin makakamit ito.”  (Whatever they say is for them to defense. As far as we’re concerned, where we’re coming from, where we’re headed and how we’ll get there is clear.) – Rappler.com