LEGAZPI CITY – Liberal Party standard-bearer Manuel A. Roxas II is not interested in a porn-like showdown with fellow presidential candidate and arch-nemesis Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte who challenged him to prove that he is already circumcised.
“I have no time for nonsense things like that,” said Roxas here while campaigning.
Instead, Roxas said the showdown should focus on platform of government, especially on what each of the candidates could do to improve the lives of the poor.
Roxas earlier said that all the presidential candidates must disclose their medical record for the public to know who among them is unfit to apply for the presidency.
Duterte health had been questioned after he was reported to have suffered serious migraine attack a few days ago that led to the cancellation of his meeting with a group of physicians in Pasay City.
Duterte rejected Roxas’ challenge to reveal their medical records. Duterte said that he would only do so if Roxas could prove that he is already circumcised.
Marikina City Rep. Miro Quimbo, spokesman for Liberal Party campaign, said Duterte’s recent statement only prove of his being pathetic.
“The people deserve a serious discourse of what’s going on to happen under the administration if he becomes president. If he can say that nastiest thing about the Pope’s mother, this recent statement shouldn’t be a surprise anymore,” said Quimbo.
Meanwhile, Roxas and running mate Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo vowed a brand new Philippine National Railways line to Bicol if they are elected.
“One of the biggest challenge for Bicol is connectivity, connectivity by land, by air, and by sea. For the air connectivity, we are already doing it with the on-going construction of the Daraga (in Albay) International Airport,” said Roxas.
He said connectivity by rail is now being attended to as no less than President Aquino has ordered a study on improving the rail system from Manila to Legazpi City.
Roxas said the President wants not only rehabilitation but a complete overhaul of the rail system to make it a brand new mass transport system.
“There is a need to have a new, modern rail system so that all the products of our countrymen, especially the Bicolanos, could easily be transported,” said Roxas.
Roxas said that everything will be replaced, including the rails that will be used, the trains, and even the facilities from Manila to Bicol.
He assured the public that he would make sure that the modern Bicol rail system would be started under his administration.
Roxas said the priority is to bring back the old glory of the PNR that transports people and products from Bicol to Manila and vice versa. (Aaron B. Recuenco)