Mar Roxas, his Senate colleague Noynoy Aquino was both nominated, but the latter became the party president.
Roxas stated the following on his acceptance speech:[3]My fellow Liberals, in a few minutes, we shall witness the torch of party leadership passed to a man who will make the LP a sturdy and modern bridge to the next generation through lessons learned from the past.Every member shall be given every opportunity to shine through his advocacy of ideas and integrity of character.
We shall build a strong, united and modern LP rooted in its founding principles, sharpening its purpose and lead it to victory in 2010Even though congratuated by DENR secretary Lito Atienza, the ousted former chairman and the leader of "Atienza faction" or "Pro-Arroyo faction", he later criticized the election, and called Drilon and his allies "merry cabal of destabilizers".
[10][11] The party members also proposed that Roxas to slide down as vice presidential candidate to form a Noy-Mar.
[12] Roxas withdraws September 1, 2009, in order to give way for then-popular Senator Noynoy Aquino.