Pnoy to lead April 17, 18 sorties; Aquino to return for LP campaign

CEBU, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III will return to Cebu to campaign for the Liberal Party’s local candidates in the province.

Vice gubernatorial candidate and acting governor Agnes Magpale said Aquino is set to join them on April 17 and 18.

Aquino earlier promised the LP local candidates that he will be back in Cebu to personally campaign for them.

Magpale said during their four-day campaign around the province, they were warmly received by their supporters in the towns and cities.

San Roque rally

Last Thursday, Magpale and runningmate Hilario “Junjun” Davide, who is running for governor, led local candidates as they ended their campaign caravan in Barangay San Roque, Talisay City.

Less than 1,000 supporters reportedly gathered at the Barangay San Roque Sports Complex, which had a capacity of 5,000.

But Magpale said that LP vice mayoralty candidate for Talisay, incumbent councilor Romeo Villarante, confirmed that the event was just a barangay sortie.

“For a barangay pulong-pulong, that was good enough,” Magpale said.

Davide and Magpale were accompanied by the LP-Talisay City slate headed by mayoralty candidate Johnny delos Reyes.

 But Villarante said he was sure the LP has more supporters who were not able to attend. 

 â€We cannot expect a larger crowd kay kalit-kalit man ang ilang pagpahibalo. Alas 7:00 p.m. man ang ilang pagpahibalo sa amoa pero they arrived ahead of the time,” Villarante said. 

Davide said they are strong in all districts, especially in the first district, particularly in Talisay City.

He admitted that he did not fare well in some districts during the 2010 elections when he ran for governor against suspended Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia.

Villarante also believes that Davide will win in Talisay City.

“We will win here. We have a strong support of the people,” he said. 

Delos Reyes will be challenged by Cebu first district Rep. Eduardo Gullas. 

Gullas is supporting the candidacies of Magpale and One Cebu gubernatorial bet Rep. Pablo John Garcia.

LP spirit

Magpale stressed that the support they got from their supporters “boiled up the LP spirit.”

She said that the turnout in other areas like Bogo City and Tuburan already gave their campaign a big boost.

In Tuburan, Magpale said the more than  10,000  t-shirts that were printed by local candidates were even not enough due to the huge turnout of supporters.

Meanwhile, Magpale said the four-day campaign caravan was the longest that she was away from her office.

She had assured that the campaign would not hamper the operations at the Capitol. — /LPM (FREEMAN)