ILOILO CITY, Philippines – Amid his barnstorming campaign in the Visayas to garner support from local executives over his presidential bid, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Mar Roxas walked out on a group of reporters after being asked his opinion on the problem-plagued Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA) fund set aside for survivors of Typhoon Yolanda, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported.
In an ambush interview, Roxas was asked by an ABS-CBN reporter on his stand regarding the ESA which has been riddled with delays and alleged irregularities.
In response, the Interior Secretary replied with “Well, whose agency is supposed to…?â€
When the reporter answered Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Roxas shot back with “What is my agency?†before suddenly going out of the room.
The interview lasted a mere 17 seconds, with many reporters saying they were surprised by the Interior Secretary’s sudden walk-out.
Not only that, he refused to entertain further questions, they added.
However, the Interior Secretary’s allies said Roxas was just in a hurry to get to Bacolod City, Negros Occidental and wasn’t out to snub anyone.
Earlier, he made his pitch to 250 mayors who were attending a conference of the League of Municipalities of the Philippine (LMP) in the city.
Touting his family’s root in the Visayas, Roxas appealed to the executives to help place a Visayan President in Malacañang.
“Nobody else will be able to say this: nobody else, because I am the only one from Visayas. Join me and I will give you a President from the Visayas,†he told those in attendance.
Roxas’ mother hails from Negros Occidental while his father the late senator Gerardo Roxas was born in Capiz.
