CEBU, Philippines — He is not a popular candidate but as admitted by Partido Lakas ng Masa presidential aspirant Leody de Guzman, he is banking on the support of the masses, especially the 45 million workers in the country, to catapult him to Malacañang.
“Hindi naman ako artista, hindi ako sikat, hindi rin ako bilyonaryo pero akoy naniniwala na ang masang Pilipino lalo na yung mga manggagawa ay iboboto ako. Manggagawa na naman,” said de Guzman, the current chairman of Bukluran ng Mangggawang Pilipino.
De Guzman was in Cebu yesterday to touch base with the Cebuanos. Cebu is one of the vote-rich provinces in the country.
“Ligawan natin ang taga Cebu at ilako natin ang bagong pulitika, yung pulitika nang masa, pulitika nang sambayanang Pilipino hindi nang mga bilyonaryo. Pulitika nang mga manggagawa hindi sa mga kapitalista. Suporta nang manggagawa at nang masang Pilipino ang ating kunin at yun ang bagong pulitika. Tao muna hindi yung iilan lang,” he said.
When asked why the Cebuanos vote for him, de Gusman said: “Dahil akoy kauri nila, dahil akoy manggagawa dahil akoy manggagawa din. Silay mahirap, akoy mahirap din. Sila ay pangkaraniwang tao, akoy pangkaraniwang tao din. Ang problema nila ay problema ko. Ang kahilingan nila ay kahilingan ko. Ang laban nila ay laban ko. Kaya ako ang dapat dahil ako ang totoong oposisyon.”
De Guzman said his being an opposition is not only limited to opposing the current President but he is also opposed to poverty, job contractualization, rice tarrification, privatization and deregulation of the oil industry that resulted in the rising prices of fuel.
The presidential wannabe yesterday met with the key leaders of Partido Lakas ng Masa in Mandaue, Talisay and Cebu City.
He also went to Magellan’s Cross where some of his supporters welcome him before proceeding to Carbon Public Market for a dialogue with some of the vendors affected by the market’s privatization.
“Nakastorya ni Ka Leody ang pipila ka mga ambulant vendors na patindahon nalang on a 3-shift basis. Naminaw siya unsa man ang panawagan sa mga vendors. He vowed to protect both vendors and residents from displacement if elected into office. He also expressed dismay against the Cebu City Government for not considering the plight of those who would be affected by the Megawide Project,” said Atty. Aaron Pedrosa, secretary-general of Sanlakas, who was with de Guzman during the dialogue.
After which, de Guzman attended the assembly of urban poor leaders occupying temporary shelter at the Cebu International Convention Center in Barangay Tipolo, Mandaue City.
He is set to attend another assembly in Cebu City and Talisay City today. — FPL (FREEMAN)