ROXAS: "WE HAVE GREAT PLANS UP AHEAD FOR THE LIBERAL PARTY"
LP NECO SET TO ELECT NEW PRESIDENT TOMORROW

The Liberal Party (LP) is set to elect its new party president on Monday, November 26, in place of former Senate President and current party president Franklin Drilon.

Senator Mar Roxas, who is the frontrunner to becoming the new LP president, said that the Liberal Party has made its mark in history for standing up for the people and fighting against abuses.

"We owe the freedom we enjoy today to the likes of Jovito Salonga, Ninoy Aquino, Gerry Roxas, Bobby Tañada, Raul Daza, Evelio Javier, Cesar Climaco and so many other LP stalwarts. At certain periods of our history, these great men held back the night and opened the doors of freedom and light," he said.

"The Liberal Party stands above the competition because it has always practiced principled and issue-based politics. I believe our party will play a key role in shaping our future, and we will fight against any attempt to hold our people's dreams hostage," he added.

Roxas said he is looking forward to advocating reforms and linking arms with as many sectors as possible in pursuing the party's affirmative action plan of "Putting People First."

"Palalakasin namin ang partido bilang sandigan ng taongbayan tungo sa pagbabago upang makamit nila ang mas magandang kinabukasan," he said in reaction to reports that majority of his partymates have expressed full support for his election as party president.

"Maraming problema na hinaharap si Juan de la Cruz: kakulangan ng pagkakakitaan, sobrang mahal na bilihin, paglabag sa batas ng mga tiwaling opisyal, paglabag sa mga karapatang pantao at civil liberties, at iba pa. Inaasahan ko na ang Partido Liberal ay magiging kabahagi sa paghahanap ng solusyon sa mga problemang ito," he added.

Roxas, grandson of the late President Manuel Roxas who founded the LP 61 years ago, observed that the people are looking for a political party that is driven by principles and fulfills its promises.

"Mas pihikan na ang mga mamamayan sa kanilang mga magiging pinuno. They want more than motherhood statements. They are asking, 'What's your plan?' 'Where are you going to take us and how?"

The Senator, together with other LP stalwarts in Congress, had launched the seven-point legislative agenda at the start of the 14th Congress, which would, among others, ensure protection of people's money and prioritize social services.

The LP-National Executive Council (NECO) will meet tomorrow at Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan . The program will be in two parts: the first being the actual NECO meeting which will be held in executive session, and the second part which is the formal election of the party president. Key personalities even from other parties and various stakeholder groups have also been invited to witness the key meeting tomorrow.