LINGAYEN, Pangasinan—A former Finance undersecretary predicted a victory for LP presidential candidate Mar Roxas at least in Pangasinan, where he won over Jejomar Binay in the 2013 vice presidential race, “because of the Pangasinense’s preference for honest, accountable and transparent leaders.”
Comelec records show that in Pangasinan, Roxas edged out Binay by 70,000 votes in their 2013 vice presidential encounter.
Vitarich Corp. president Jose Vicente “Jovy” C. Bengzon III told members of the President Hotel Breakfast Club on Wednesday that Pangasinan will go for Roxas “because of his being an alter ego of President Aquino with the zealous straight path mantra of governance.”
“Under Mar Roxas, Daang Matuwid is in safe hands,” Bengzon said.
Bengzon belied a claim that Roxas is an indecisive leader. He said: “ It takes him time to decide to avoid irregular and corrupt deals that would destroy the government. This is in line with Daang Matuwid.”
As a party, the LP enjoys popular support with its candidates enjoying acceptability ratings in the SWS and Pulse Asia, according to Bengzon, who was also former head of the Philippine National Construction Corp.
He described Pangasinan as an “intelligent-voting province” with a bias for genuine public servants like Roxas.
Bengzon, a nephew of former Health Secretary Alran Bengzon and former Congressman Antonio Bengson in this capital town, also made a pitch for Rep. Leni Robredo, widow of the late DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo, as the “epitome” of a straight path public servant.
She showed in her short stint as Camarines Sur representative a work ethic that fits a primer for “honest, transparent and accountable governance.”
Present at the forum were Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil who is running for reelection unopposed in the 2nd District, Region 1 DENR Legal Officer Lito Salatan, former vice mayor of Cordon, Isabela; and former Regional board member Roberto Sison.
The President Hotel Breakfast Club meeting is headed by book author and hotel owner Mita S. Duque, publisher of the Capitol Post newsweekly, a leading regional newspaper.