Mapanghusgang mundo ng internet. Hindi ako nagpapaka self righteous. Si Mar malamang hindi rin. Walang perpekto sa…
Posted by Ramon Bautista on Thursday, December 10, 2015
Comedian-host Ramon Bautista hit back to his critics as he defended his decision to support the presidential bid of Liberal Party’s Manuel “Mar” Roxas II.
In a lengthy Facebook post, Bautista urged his critics to stop settling for Internet memes, and instead do their research as he enumerated the accomplishments of Roxas as a legislator and public servant.
READ: Netizens question Ramon Bautista’s support for Roxas
He said Roxas authored Republic 7880, which provides the fair and equitable allocation of budget to state colleges and universities.
He said he wanted continuity in good governance, citing 180,000 new classrooms were built during the five years of the Aquino administration. He said this was more than the combined classrooms built since 1986.
READ: Roxas sees no problem being tagged ‘Noynoy 2.0’
He said a total of 30,000 computers have been distributed to 2,000 public high schools nationwide.
Under a Roxas administration, he said the K-12 program would continue, which would make the country’s education system at par with “world standard.”
He said that the conditional cash transfer program of the government would continue under a Roxas administration.
READ: Palace: Roxas running on platform of continuity
In creating job opportunities and economic stability, Bautista cited Roxas as the father of the call center industry or the business process outsourcing in the Philippines.
READ: Roxas loosens up, goes on charm offensive
If elected president, he said Roxas’ solution to traffic would be allowing only one bus company to operate along Edsa while waiting for the decentralization of Metro Manila.
In terms of health care, he said Roxas was the author of the cheaper medicines act.
Bautista added that most of all, Roxas has an untainted record in graft and corruption.
“Malinis ang kanyang record pagdating sa graft and corruption. Kasama pa d’yan ang pagsulong n’ya sa freedom of information bill,” he said.
(He has a clean record when it comes to graft and corruption. He also supports the passage of the freedom of information bill.)
Bautista’s statement came after netizens questioned his support for Roxas.
Many accused the host-comedian of accepting money, which compromised his principles.
Bautista has denied accepting a talent fee, saying his decision to support Roxas was part of our democracy.
“Demokrasya ito and your vote is as good as mine. Ito ang opinyon ko at kung ayaw n’yo s’yang iboto, e ‘di wag. ‘Wag n’yo sabihin hindi ko kayo sinabihan ng kakayahan at plataporma ni Mar,” he said.
In an earlier Twitter post, Bautista said the accusation that he compromised his principle over money were “baseless.”
“Daming nambabatikos at nanghuhusga na walang batayan. Basta ito ang stand ko bilang malayang Pilipino – kay Mar Roxas ang boto ko,” he said.
(Many criticize me without basis. This is my stand as a free Filipino—Mar Roxas has my vote.) NC/IDL
READ: Ramon Bautista unfazed by netizens’ attacks: ‘Mar Roxas has my vote’