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By Efren L. Danao, Senior Reporter
SEN. Manuel “Mar” Roxas 2nd, the newly
elected president of the Liberal Party (LP), on Monday vowed to lead
the Liberals to victory in the 2010 presidential elections.
Roxas was unopposed in winning the election for
president of the party that was founded by his grandfather, the late
President Manuel Roxas. He succeeded former Senate President
Franklin Drilon. His father, the late Sen. Gerardo Roxas, was also a
former LP president.
“We shall build a strong, united, and modern
LP—rooted in its founding principles, sharpening its purpose—and
lead it to victory over in 2010,” he said in his acceptance speech
at the Club Filipino in San Juan City. His audience included former
President Corazon Aquino and Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Satur Ocampo.
He is certain to be the presidential candidate
of the party in 2010. He also received blanket authority from the LP
national executive council to appoint party officers and organize
party units and organs.
“We will win because we are fighting for the
poor, the helpless, the discouraged, all who only want a decent life
and a chance to make their way in this world,” Roxas said, while
repeatedly stressing that it is now time for change and renewal.
The LP election had the theme “Oras Na,”
just a letter shy of the Roxas name.
Roxas said the LP will be a movement built
around fresh ideas. He also vowed to win back the kind of government
that reflects the people’s honesty, competence, decency and hard
work.
“The Liberal Party will win our people’s
trust in our public institutions, win our people’s fair share in
the benefits from a growing economy, win our people’s fight for
security, justice, peace and predictability in our lives,” he
added.
Roxas urged all Liberals to work harder and with
greater urgency to change the country.
“We have to do it together as a political
party and as an organized movement based on values, on ideas, on
competence, and on vision,” he said.
Drilon has a rosy prediction for the party under
Roxas.
“I am confident that under the stewardship of
Sen. Mar Roxas, the Liberal Party will be the formidable party to
reckon with in the next electoral exercise,” Drilon said,
referring to the 2010 presidential elections.
Sen. Benigno Aquino 3rd, who nominated Roxas,
said Liberals’ standard-bearer has what it takes “to lead not
only the LP but also our country.” He added that Roxas would make
the LP “a sturdy and modern bridge to the next generation through
lessons learned from the past.”
The LP election was also attended by former
Senate president Jovito Salonga, the LP president emeritus and Ramon
Magsaysay Awardee who swore Roxas into office as party president.
Non-LP members attended the Club Filipino affair
to show their support for Roxas. Among them were Gov. Gwen Garcia of
Cebu, Gov. Daisy Fuentes of South Cotabato, Mayor Tomas Osmeña of
Cebu City, former representative Lu Antonino of General Santos City,
Rep. Jose Yap of Tarlac, former representative Roger Sarmiento of
Compostela Valley and businessman Raul Concepcion.
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