Roxas, who abandoned his own presidential bid to give way to Aquino after several groups called on the latter to seek the presidency, made the announcement at the historic Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan City, on the 37th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law.
"Taos-puso ko pong tinatanggap ang responsibilidad na maging kabalikat ni Noynoy sa kanyang laban para sa pagbabago. Taos-puso at buong pakumbaba ko pong tinatanggap ang maging katambal ni Noynoy Aquino (I wholeheartedly accept the responsibility to be Noynoy's companion in his fight for change. I wholeheartedly and humbly accept the offer to be Noynoy Aquino's running mate)," Roxas said, his statement met with applause from mostly yellow-clad supporters.
"This fight is not just about Noynoy and me. It’s bigger than the two of us. It’s bigger than the Liberal Party. It’s bigger than anyone of us. It is about our collective thirst for change. It is about finally overcoming those who want to continue the tayu-tayo system, the horse-trading, the greed, the self-interest, the transactional politics that has been the biggest roadblock to progress and prosperity for all," he added.
Presidential adviser for political affairs Gabriel Claudio said Sunday that Malacañang knew Roxas would settle for a vice presidential bid when he dropped his presidential ambition last month. Claudio wished the tandem well, saying Aquino and Roxas "have a natural synergy of political beliefs and ideology because of their friendship and shared party loyalties."
In his Monday announcement, Roxas said he and Aquino were up against "forces who will fight tooth and nail, fair and unfair, legal and illegal," but that he is "honored" to join his party mate in the "tough battle."
"I am honored to join him in this field of battle. To all of us who are fighting alongside him, make no mistake about it: We will not back down from this fight, not now, not ever," he stressed.
Joker's remarks hit
Aquino, who earlier introduced Roxas at the event, was all praises for his fellow senator.
"Ang sakripisyo po niya ang nagbigay daan sa paglunsad at pagpapatupad ng isang pambansang kilusan ng ating mga kababayan na talagang uhaw sa panunumbalik ng isang disente at malinis na pamamahala sa ating gobyerno (His sacrifice gave way to the rise of a nationwide movement of Filipinos thirsty for the return of a decent and clean government)," Aquino said in his opening remarks.
Aquino even took a swipe at administration Senator Joker Arroyo, who, according to Aquino, once said members of the Liberal Party can be fitted into compact car Volkswagen Beetle.
"Sinabi kasi ni Senator Joker na kasya ang Liberal sa isang Volkswagen (Senator Joker said all Liberals can be fitted into a Volkswagen)," Aquino said. "Pakihanda na ang lahat ng Beetles sa Pilipinas (Please prepare all Beetles in the Philippines)."
Arroyo once served as executive secretary of the late President Corazon Aquino, Noynoy's mother.
In an earlier interview at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani in Quezon City, Senator Aquino said that the LP chose September 21 as the date of Roxas' announcement because of its significance to the party.
"Ito ang nag-shape kung sino kami ngayon, yung eksperyensyang yan, may significance doon, and again nung pinaabot sa atin ni Senator Mar na ready na siya e bakit pa natin patatagalin (That was what shaped who we are today, that experience was significant. When Senator Mar told me he was ready, I said, why prolong the announcement)?" he said.
The two senators' fathers, the late senators Gerardo Roxas and Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr., were both LP leaders who fought against Martial Law.
Among those present at the Club Filipino announcement were Mar's mother Judy Araneta-Roxas, LP chairman Franklin Drilon, Senator Rodolfo Biazon, Senator Aquino's sister Viel Aquino-Dee and uncle Agapito "Butz" Aquino, Zambales Governor Amor Deloso, Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros, and former Peace adviser Teresita Deles.
"I'm very happy about it. I think they will make a wonderful team, super team," Mrs. Roxas said.
Senator Francis Pangilinan was also there to express his support for the LP tandem. Valenzuela Councilor Shalani Soledad, Noynoy's girlfriend, was not around. Mar's girlfriend, broadcaster Korina Sanchez, was also absent from the event.
All set for Aquino-Roxas campaign
In an earlier interview over GMA News' Unang Hirit, Drilon said the LP is all set for the Aquino-Roxas campaign.
Drilon said Mar's announcement did not violate the Omnibus Election Code, which prohibits any political party from holding “political conventions or meetings to nominate its official candidates earlier than the period fixed in" the law. According to the Comelec calendar, the schedule for holding political conventions to nominate official party candidates for all elective positions in the 2010 elections will start on Oct. 21, 2009 and end on Nov. 19, 2009.
"Wala kaming nilabag dahil wala namang botohan. Sila lang naman ang kandidato namin sa partido kaya hindi kailangan ng convention. Ina-announce lang namin ang kanilang kandidatura (We are not in violation of the election law because there was no voting. They are the only candidates in the party so we need no convention. We just announced their candidacy)," the former Senate President said.
Drilon said the LP’s campaign will center on issues, and not on personalities. He added that they are still forging alliances in order to complete the party's senatorial line-up.
"Alam mo [ang] realities sa politics, maraming alliances ang mangyayari dyan. Sa Senado talagang magkakaroon ng alliances, mahirap naman magbuo ng puro Liberal sa linyada ng senador kaya may mga alliances kami diyan (In reality, there will be a lot of alliances in politics. For the Senate we'll have a lot of alliances because it will be difficult to complete a senatorial slate full of Liberals)," he said.
Mar was being groomed as LP standard bearer until clamors for Noynoy to run for the highest elective post emerged after the death of the latter’s mother, former President Aquino. Mrs. Aquino died on August 1 after more than a year of battle with colon cancer. Noynoy is seen by some quarters as the one who could continue the legacy of good governance and transparency of his parents, both of whom stood firmly against Martial Law.
Noynoy announced his presidential plans on September 9, more than a week after Mar gave way, following a spiritual retreat and consultation with the some groups.
Both Noynoy and Mar made their announcements at Club Filipino, where Mrs. Aquino took her oath as president on Feb. 25, 1986 during the final day of the EDSA People Power Revolution that ended the 20-year rule of strongman Ferdinand Marcos. - GMANews.TV
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