By Hannah Torregoza Former Senator Manuel “Mar” Roxas II expressed belief that the country’s political freedom is nothing without economic freedom. Mar Roxas
(KJ ROSALES / MANILA BULLETIN) Roxas, a senatorial candidate of the “Otso Diretso” opposition coalition explained this is the main reason why he is concentrating on the country’s economic concerns in this year’s election bid. “Naniniwala ako na yung ating political freedom, walang saysay yan kung walang economic freedom (I believe there is no political freedom if there is no economic freedom),” Roxas said during the “Usapang Eleksyon” forum organized by the Good Shepherd Convent participated by nuns and lay supporters of the church. “Politically free ka nga, ayon sa Constitution, pero wala ka namang makain. Therefore, hawak ka ng ating mga pulitiko, (You may be politically free under the Constitution, but if you don’t have the means to put food on your table, you are under the mercy of the politicians),” Roxas pointed out. The forum centered on the issue of how the country’s party list system is being exploited by political families. “Talagang very relevant (ang issue) dahil sa kahirapan ng mga Pilipino, hawak sila sa mga leeg ng mga traditional politicians. Nagiging family corporations nila yung kanilang lugar, yung kanilang bayan, (The discussion is very relevant. Because of poverty, traditional politicians are holding Filipinos hostage. They have transformed their bailiwicks into family corporations),” he stressed. Roxas said this is evident whenever one political family monopolizes local government positions particularly those who run for mayor, vice mayor, congressmen and governor. “So nakatutok ako sa ekonomiya—sa paglikha ng trabaho, sa pagbantay sa mga presyo, sa pagpapalaki ng kita, para makalaya ang mga tao dito sa stranglehold ng mga trapo (That’s why I chose to concentrate on the economy—creating jobs, monitoring prices, improving income so that our people can liberate themselves from the strangehold of trapos),” Roxas said. Earlier, Roxas vowed to beef up his campaign after the latest Pulse Asia survey showed a decrease in his survey performance. From ranking 8thto 12th in February, Roxas fell to 11th to 17th ranking in the March survey, but his awareness rating remained steady at 99 percent. Roxas said he would not regret his “family first policy” as he spent more than the last two weeks abroad together with his wife, broadcaster Korina Sanchez, and his son from a previous relationship. The couple brought home their newborn twins Pepe and Pilar last April 1. “So okay lang ‘yan. May one month pa naman. Campaign pa more!” Roxas was quoted saying following the release of the survey.