PUERTO PRINCESA CITY—Liberal Party presidential candidate Manuel Roxas II on Saturday urged his allies to continue supporting him because people will eventually vote for him after they realize that he has stayed with them through thick and thin.
“People already know me, a long-time neighbor they can easily set aside. We have been with them for some time, so it’s only natural that they look at others,” Roxas told a gathering of local allies.
Roxas also reiterated that while he is not leading now, he would be the “flavor of the month” whom voters would choose once they vote in May 2016.
Despite earlier pronouncements that he would soon lead the polls once the campaign period starts, his numbers have yet to overtake that of fellow presidential candidates Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, Senator Grace Poe and Vice President Jejomar Binay.
Tricia Robredo, the daughter of LP vice presidential bet Leni Robredo, admitted that she still fears some who would transfer to the camp of her mother’s rivals as soon as Election Day draws near.
Palawan Gov. Jose Alvarez promised, however, that Mar and Leni will win the polls because the LP’s grassroots can bring a 10 to 15 percent increase to the administration bets’ numbers.
Roxas believes, however, that if local leaders would shepherd the voters to their voting precincts, he will have that huge advantage in the polls citing the huge machinery of the LP.
“My point is, whatever our numbers in the surveys, [local officials] can help shape the campaign here in the local level,” he added.
Roxas said that if the people won’t bring in the supporters to the voting precincts to vote for him, still, his bets would have huge advantage over him.
“Our machinery will work for us to help voters reach the precincts, and naturally, they will work for our allies,” he said. “Our key to victory is to make our supporters reach the polling booths.”
“For me what’s important is this last few days of the campaign. We’re at 20, but there’s a higher possibility that voters will choose Mar Roxas and Leni Robredo because you are there to help them vote,” he added.