Caloocan City 2nd District Representative Edgar Erice is making a personal case for former senator Mar Roxas to enter the 2028 presidential race, describing him as the most qualified among potential candidates and someone who would not turn down a call to serve.
“Sa tingin ko, sa lahat ng mga kandidato na ‘yan, ang pinaka-qualified, si Mar Roxas,” Erice told reporters Monday.
The Liberal Party lawmaker said he is actively working to persuade Roxas, framing the former Interior secretary’s previous electoral defeat as a wound that has never fully healed — but one that could drive him back into the fight.
“Si Mar Roxas, para ‘yang nanligaw, binasted. Masakit sa kanya ‘yung pagkaka-basted sa kanya. Pero sa nangyayari sa bayan natin, dahil mahal niya ‘yung bayan natin, aba’y nasasaktan ‘yan, at ‘pag tinawag mo ‘yan, lalaban ‘yan para sa bayan,” he said.
Erice added: “Sa pagkakakilala ko sa kanya, mahal niya ang bayan at hindi siya tatanggi sa tawag ng bayan.”
When asked about LP members who are pushing former Vice President Leni Robredo instead, Erice pointed to Robredo’s own statements as the deciding factor.
“Ayaw niya eh. ‘Di ba sinabi niya ayaw niya. Kung siya, eh ‘di siya. Kung siya ang mapili, pero sabi niya ayaw niya. Baka magalit na ‘yun kakapilit natin,” he said.
Erice also weighed in on how the ongoing impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte might shape the political landscape heading into 2028, suggesting that a successful impeachment could actually strengthen the opposition’s position against his own camp.
“‘Pag na-impeach si Vice President Sara, ang maglalaban ‘yung dilaw saka ‘yung pula. Kaya mas maganda nga hindi ma-impeach, dahil walang kandidato ‘yung pula. Dilaw na lang kami,” he said.
Erice separately confirmed he will not take part in the House plenary vote on Duterte’s impeachment proceedings.
