Why not a ‘Ro-Ro’ run in the presidential race of 2016?

I propose a Roxas-Robredo tandem in the 2016 presidential election.

Leaders of the Liberal Party recently announced that Interior Secretary Mar Roxas is the LP presidential candidate. Rep. Leni Robredo is the LP chair in Camarines Sur.

Roxas is among the few members of the Aquino administration’s official family who is unblemished and not accused of graft and corruption. And while his popularity ratings in surveys are not high, he has a formidable political following inside the LP.

Besides, Roxas has the experience in good governance needed to serve as president.

On the other hand, Robredo, being a champion of people empowerment, as Roxas’ vice president, can complement his leadership. Robredo has served for many years as a champion of women and the marginalized in her district; she had a strong mentor of a husband, the late Jesse Robredo, former interior secretary and bemedaled mayor of Naga City. She fought against a well-entrenched political dynasty in her province and won a landslide victory.

The unblemished Robredo has been tested and has proved herself a cut above greedy politicians. She is diligent and sincere and very statesmanlike, qualities our nation has long been seeking in our leaders.

Above all, we need a country run by leaders of a stable and united political party, not a mere coalition of undisciplined parties that easily breed corrupt leaders who brazenly abuse power and just enrich themselves and their families while leaving the majority of our people in poverty and powerlessness. This is the sad situation in the country today, and this is the reason political dynasties exist.

Recent studies found that political dynasties rule by keeping a great number of our people poor and powerless. Thus, we have a rule of a few politically entrenched families who switch party affiliations whenever they think it serves their selfish political agenda.

Ro-Ro (pronounced as “row-row”) is our campaign slogan for a Roxas-Robredo tandem. Row-row in Bisaya means “bugsay, bugsay.” This suggests we carry forward together the reform stance of the Aquino administration and bring our country all in one boat to a new level of growth and development that leaves no one behind. The growth targets for the country must be for all, not just for a few. Let us support Mar Roxas and Leni Robredo, our hope for a better future.

—JAIME DELIMA RANESES, Gil Puyat Avenue, Pio del Pilar, Makati City