Backpacks, others banned in PDP-Laban’s campaign rally

CEBU, Philippines — At least 120,000 people from the city and the province are expected to troop to Plaza Independencia on Sunday for the PDP-Laban Cebu campaign rally.

During the event, drones, bottled water, backpacks and ballpens will not be allowed during the event.

At a mini-briefing yesterday, Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (OPAV) Spokesperson Titus Borromeo confirmed the attendance of President Rodrigo Duterte and PDP-Laban campaign manager, Senator Manny Pacquiao.

“The PDP-Laban is preparing for a 120,000 crowd but we have contingencies up to 150,000 because it will be attended by official candidates of PDP-Laban, the guest candidates from all over the Province including the cities, Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu,” he told reporters, adding that the Muslim community will also participate in the gathering.

Senatorial candidates of PDP-Laban will also grace the campaign sortie.

Borromeo said it is the discretion of the president whether or not he will raise and endorse the local aspirants for the upcoming May elections.

“Knowing that the president has a hectic schedule, this might be the only campaign sortie that the president will attend in Cebu kay wala pa ta kahibaw kon mobalik pa siya para mangampanya,” he said.

After meeting with the Presidential Security Group, Borromeo said the group instructed the organizers to ban bottled waters, ballpens, pencils, back packs, and drone flying inside the Plaza Independencia.

Borromeo said the organizers will also coordinate with the police to ensure the tight security of the area where the president will arrive.

When asked if the 120,000 will be accommodated at Plaza Independencia, he said he cannot estimate the total number of people that can be accommodated in the place yet, adding that the organizers will coordinate with the police on how to go about it.

Borromeo said PDP-Laban senatorial bets will be giving their campaign speeches during the event which will start at 2 p.m. until the president arrives.

He said OPAV Head Michael Lloyd Dino will be the one to welcome Duterte.

He added aspirants for mayor, vice mayor, councilors, and congressmen from Cebu City and Cebu Province under PDP-Laban are expected to grace the event.

According to Cebu City Councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia, the preparation for this Sunday’s activity is “going smoothly as planned.”

Garcia said the PDP-Laban central office has paid P50,000 for the bond, P16,000 for the rental of Plaza Indepencia and P6,500 for Fort San Pedro already.

He hoped that the smooth preparations will translate into a successful proclamation rally.

Vice gubernatorial candidate Marie Daphne Salimbangon said they expect 80,000 supporters joining with the PDP-Laban candidates. — Micole Gerard J. Tizon (FREEMAN)