IN an apparent effort to reverse claims on the failure of the administration to handle the national health emergency, a top Palace official hinted at a worse scenario had former Senator Mar Roxas won the presidency back in 2016.
In a televised interview, Roque said that he could imagine what the situation would have been under a Roxas presidency –“Can you really imagine a Roxas leading this country amidst the many trials we have had? From COVID-19 pandemic to China,” Roque was quoted as telling TV5’s Deretsahan host Luchie Cruz Valdez.
He added that Roxas’s track record would have fell short of what is required of a leader amid tough times.
“Hindi ko maisip kung Mar Roxas became president, knowing yung mga track record niya sa mga pagsubok sa Yolanda tsaka doon sa Mamasapano,” he added.
Roxas ran for President under the Liberal Party against then-Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, then Vice President Jejomar Binay, the late Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Senator Grace Poe. Duterte won with over 16 million votes while Roxas came in a far second with almost 10 million markers.