Third visit this year: PNoy in Cebu rallies today

CEBU, Philippines - An estimated 30,000 people in three rally sites in Cebu are expected to greet President Benigno Aquino III and some Team PNoy senatorial candidates today.

This is Aquino’s third visit in Cebu this year. He will lead the groundbreaking ceremony of the widening of the P3.72452-billion Mactan Circumferential Road in barangay Ibo in Lapulapu City.

The President is expected to arrive at 9:00 in the morning. He will be assisted by Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas and officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways, for the lowering of the capsule.

The said road is an existing paved road with a total length of 26.334 kilometers that starts from barangay Pajo and ends at barangay Poblacion, traversing the municipality of Cordova. The road has three component bridges: Gabi, Pilipog I and Pilipog II.

This road project aims to provide easy access from the Mactan Cebu International Airport to the various world class tourist destinations the island is popularly known for. The three-billion cost for this already includes road right-of-way acquisition.

After Lapulapu City, Aquino will meet with the local leaders and the community at the Celestino Martinez Sr. Sports and Cultural Center in barangay Taytayan, Bogo City.

In Bogo City, an estimated 10,000 people are expected to join the rally. Aquino will then proceed to Toledo City at the Barba Sports Complex in barangay Poblacion where an estimated 5,000 crowd will be waiting.

The President’s next stop will be Cebu City where an estimated 15,000 supporters are expected to attend the gathering of the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) at the Capitol grounds.

Aquino will be joined by at least nine senatorial candidates of Team PNoy and Liberal Party local candidates Hilario “Junjun” Davide, Jr., gubernatorial candidate and Acting Governor Agnes Magpale, vice gubernatorial candidate and Cebu City South District Representative Tomas Osmeña.

President Aquino is expected to deliver a speech in these four events.

Magpale is looking forward to a peaceful gathering today at the Capitol grounds. She appeals to supporters and candidates of the opposition to respect the event f the BOPK and the Liberal Party.

Magpale said she was not aware of the statement of Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama that Team Rama supporters and candidates may man the road traffic in the Capitol area.

Rama reportedly said that it would depend already if their supporters and candidates would be wearing Team Rama and United Nationalist Alliance shirts during the BOPK-LP rally.

On whether this would possibly cause rifts between supporters of both parties, Magpale said she does not believe the opposition would do something “irresponsible” that could possibly start problems, especially in an event with the presence of the President.

Magpale said they would like to appeal to supporters and candidates of Team Rama and UNA to respect their events, stating that they did not do anything to disrupt rallies of the opposition.

Senior Supt. Mariano Natu-el, acting director of the Cebu City Police Office, said he will deploy two platoons from the Crowd Dispersal Management team to secure the Capitol. A number of mobile patrol personnel and officers from the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT)-Motorcycle Response Unit are also on standby.

Natu-el said the police are also prepared for any cause-oriented groups that may stage rally considering that the President is here.

Apart from the BOPK rally and the Presidential visit, the CCPO acting

director said the police will continuously secure other areas of the city.

“Ang atong security for President PNoy, tipik lang na sa atong daily

duties. Dili nato pasagdan ang ubang areas sa syudad,” Natu-el emphasized. — /JPM (FREEMAN)