ANTIPOLO CITY, Philippines – The two bets who are statistically tied for 3rd place in the latest presidential preference surveys continue their verbal tussle barely 2 weeks before the start of the official campaign period for national candidates.

Liberal Party standard-bearer Manuel Roxas III on Tuesday, February 2, said Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s recent statements against him are “proof” that his is an empty platform.

Duterte in an interview on Tuesday said Roxas suffered a “breakdown” in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Yolanda in 2013, leaving him unable to manage the post-disaster situation.

Ask to react, Roxas told reporters in a chance interview: “Siguro ito namang kaibigan kong si Rody ay nagiging salingpusa na naman na kung saan ay naghahanap ng paraan para makabalik sa pagiging kabahagi ng usapin.”

(My friend Rody is just trying to be relevant, finding a way to be part of the discussion.)

Roxas added: “Tayo ang programa, plataporma, kung saan natin dadalhin ang bansa ang ating pinaguusapan. Kung ang kanyang plataporma ay si Mar Roxas lang well, yan ang nagpapakita, nagpapatunay na wala naman talagang laman ang kanyang programa.”

(I talk about programs, platforms, where I plan to take the country. If his platform is Mar Roxas then that only goes to show that his are empty programs.)

Duterte was referring to how the Aquino administration responded to the massive rescue and relief operations required after Yolanda. Roxas was severely criticized at the time over allegations that he was too slow in managing the efforts as interior and local government secretary.

The two candidates, who claim Visayas to be their bailiwicks, are trailing behind survey front runners Vice President Jejomar Binay and Senator Grace Poe. 

Prior to the 2016 election season, Roxas and Duterte were good friends and close allies. Duterte endorsed Roxas’ failed bid for the vice presidency in 2010 while Roxas always made it a point to visit the mayor during trips to Mindanao.

“Nasusurprise ako dahil magkaibigan kami. Tinuring ko siyang kaibigan. Kung ano anong mga kasinungalingan, mga kabaliktaran, mga kabaluktutan ang sinasabi niya tungkol sa akin. Di ko alam kung saan nagmumula ito at hindi ko na siya papatulan pa,” said Roxas.

(I’m surprised because we used to be friends. I considered him a friend. But now he’s spreading all these lies about me. I don’t know where he’s coming from and I won’t comment on him anymore.)

The rift between the two started in 2015, after Roxas announced his plans to run for president and just as Duterte was being egged on to run as well.

Duterte said Roxas was behind rumors he had cancer, a claim Roxas and the LP deny. – Rappler.com