ROXAS' VP BID ENDORSED BY LOCAL EXECS NATIONWIDE

Local executives all over the country have endorsed the vice presidential bid of Sen. Mar Roxas, ensuring the victory of his fight for reforms and good governance in the 2010 national elections.

Roxas, who is the President of the Liberal Party, is being supported by Quezon City Mayor Feliciano "Sonny" Belmonte, Vice Mayor Herbert "Bistek" Bautista and Councilor Joy Belmonte, Kaloocan City Mayor Enrico "Recom" Echiverri, Palawan Rep. Abraham Mitra and AMIN party-list Rep. Mujiv Hataman.

On Wednesday, Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo del Rosario, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Tagum City Mayor Rey T. Uy likewise committed their support to Roxas, who has been the frontrunner in surveys for the vice presidential contest conducted by reputable polling firms. Roxas had a 40% rating at the latest SWS survey while Pulse Asia said 4 out of 10 Filipinos or 37% would vote for Roxas if the elections were held today.

During today's oath-taking of local officials from Laguna, Bulacan, Bataan and Palawan, Roxas announced the local party Partido Plaridel of Bulacan Gov. Josie dela Cruz had likewise already committed to support his candidacy during the party's convention Wednesday night.

Roxas' candidacy had also been endorsed by Rep. Victor Agbayani, North Cotabato Rep. Bernardo Piñol Jr., Batangas Governor Vilma Santos-Recto, Pampanga Gov. Ed Panlilio, Cavite Gov. Erineo "Ayong" Maliksi, Cebu City Tommy Osmeña, Gingoog, Misamis Oriental Mayor Ruthie Guingona, Pasay City Vice Mayor Antonio Calixto and Alaminos Mayor Hernani Braganza of Pangasinan,

Belmonte will be the Liberals' congressional candidate in the fourth district of Quezon City while Bautista will seek the mayoralty post, with Joy as his vice mayoralty running-mate. Echiverri will seek reelection in the 2010 national and local elections.

The Belmontes and Bautista took their oaths in the morning at the jam-packed Amoranto Stadium in Quezon City where hundreds of their supporters showed up and backed their 2010 candidacies. In the afternoon, Echiverri's oath-taking was held at the covered court in Bagong Silang in Kaloocan City beside the Sto. Niño church.

The defection of the Belmontes, Bautista and Echiverri is the latest to hit the Lakas-Kampi-CMD coalition, an exodus that has further proven true the people's desire to end the current administration and bring to power a new one that would initiate massive reforms and conform to good governance.

"Hindi na talaga katanggap-tanggap itong mapang-abusong administrasyong ito. Hindi natin papayagan na nakawin pang muli ang ating pag-asa at ang ating pangarap. Itutuloy natin ang laban para sa reporma. Sama-sama tayo. Hindi namin kayo pababayaan. Lalaban tayo!" said Roxas. -more- The LP vice presidential candidate also said: "Our nation is in trouble. Leadership is bankrupt. Institutions are in disarray. Our people are hungry. We all share the same outrage over the mess we are all in. The same way that we all share the solution: clean, honest, selfless public service."

"Lumalaki na ang ating puwersa. Nadadagdagan tayo ng nadadagdagan. Patunay lamang ito ng dumarami pa nating mga kababayan na pagod na pagod na sa kabulukan ng ating sistema," added Roxas. Roxas was given the royal treatment in Davao City on Wednesday, with no less than Duterte organizing an impromptu motorcade and tour of the city. "Kani atong Bise-Presidente. Limpio ini (He is our Vice-President. He is clean)," Duterte told Davaoenos he and Roxas met as they walked together in downtown Davao.

Roxas personally drove Duterte's pickup truck as they toured the city. Roxas has been close to Duterte, Mindanao's most popular and toughest city mayor, since he was a congressman. Durterte had endorsed Roxas' bid to become President, but continued supporting him even when Roxas gave way to Senator Benigno S. Aquino III to become the LP presidential bet for the 2010 elections.