Former Senator Mar Roxas. ABS-CBN News file photo
MANILA - Former Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas will be running for senator in next year's mid-term elections.
This was confirmed by former Presidential Spokersperson Edwin Lacierda in an interview with ABS-CBN News.
"I can confirm that Sec. Mar Roxas is running in the 2019 Senatorial Elections. And we are grateful that he has decided to run once more and serve the country," he said.
In a separate statement, Liberal Party President Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan welcomed Roxas' decision to give politics another shot.
"For a public servant like Mar, the basic values that bind us— a sense of duty, of not quitting on the country — these basic values will always prevail," he said.
"Mar Roxas is a stalwart of the Liberal Party. Now that he’s on board, the opposition coalition enters the elections with even firmer resolve," Pangilinan added.
Roxas on Monday voiced his intention to return to the political scene.
"Kung sa tingin niyo, makakatulong pa ako, handa ako. Ino-offer kong muli ang sarili ko sa inyo. At hinihingi ko rin ang tulong niyo dahil hindi ko kaya ito nang nag-iisa," he said.
Roxas has held various positions in government, a résumé that includes 7 years in the House of Representatives and 6 years in the Senate.
He had a chance to run for president in the 2010, but gave way for party-mate Benigno Aquino III, who eventually won.
Roxas ran for vice president that year but lost to former Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay. He later held key positions under the Aquino government.
He ran for president in 2016 and came 2nd in a race won by then Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.
Mar Roxas, Edwin Lacierda, Francis Pangilinan, Senate, COC filing, COC, halalan 2019 2019 elections