Presidential candidate Mar Roxas denied yesterday any hand on the allegation of Senators Grace Poe and Francis Escudero that they were prevented from campaigning in Capiz, the hometown of the Liberal Party standard-bearer.
“Capiz is open to all candidates, they are free to present their platform there,” said Roxas.
The tandem of Poe and Escudero went to Roxas City to campaign but was reported to have been barred from meeting with the students in one of the schools there.
Their supporters were reportedly also prevented from entering a mall where they were supposed to be holding a dialogue.
The camps of Poe and Escudero immediately tagged Roxas as responsible, with Poe was reported to have been quoted mocking Daang Matuwid campaign slogan of the administration party.
This did not sit well with the Liberal Party which accused Poe of being a freeloader of the gains of the Aquino administration especially in the fight against corruption.
Akbayan Rep. Barry Gutierrez, LP spokesman for campaign, said that Poe is obviously riding on the success of the clean and honest governance for the 2016 elections.
In fact, he said that Poe’s recent statement that she wanted Aquino to be his adviser on anti-corruption drive if she wins is among the indications.
“We are happy that she recognizes the achievements of the President but what is unfair there is that she clearly wants to make people believe that she is close to the President,” said Gutierrez.
Earlier, reports have been circulating that Poe is the secret candidate of the President, an allegation repeatedly denied by the Chief Executive.
