Local sorties start smoothly

CEBU, Philippines —  The campaign of local candidates in the May 2022 polls kicked off peacefully in Cebu on Friday, March 25, and while COVID protocols are still in place, supporters went all out to support their bets.

Most of the political groups in Cebu started the day with a Holy Mass before hitting the road to campaign like BARUG-PDP Laban, the group of incumbent Mayor Michael Rama, and BOPK, the group of former councilor Margot Osmeña, who is running for mayor.

BARUG heard Mass at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral while BOPK heard Mass at the Our Lady of Guadalupe National Shrine in Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City.

“This is it. Today (yesterday), we cross the Rubicon. We submit ourselves to earn your mandate to continue to serve you as public servants. For indeed, as etched above the façade of City Hall: Public Service is a Public Trust,” Rama said.

For her part, Osmeña hopes candidates will stay true to their word of preserving peace during the campaign.

“We pray nga dili na mahitabo…  ang tinood nga will ba sa mga tawo, mogawas gyud, and we signed a peace covenant the other day. Sana we keep our word,” Osmeña said.

Her husband, former mayor Tomas Osmeña, was supposed to run for Congress but withdrew his candidacy in November 2021.

Independent candidate Dave Tumulak and supporters also attended Mass at the Holy Cross Parish Church in Barangay Basak.

He asked supporters of all candidates to keep calm during the campaign.

“Mohangyo lang ta sa katawhan, ilabi na sa dumadapig sa atong kaatbang, nga magpabalin lang mabugnawon… kalinaw ang atong gitinguha… mas maayo gyud ning makita sa atong katawhan ang kalinaw ug hapsay nga pagpahigayon sa atong election… badlungon lang ang katong mga manag-away kay managlahi lagi ang ilahang gipanglabanan; dili gyud maayo mag-away. Giawhag sab nato atong kaugalingong supporters nga magpabilin mabugnawon ug dili lang gyud mag-away,” Tumulak said.

Another candidate for mayor, anti-corruption crusader Cris Saavedra, chose to hit the road on his own to talk to voters. He said he prefers to tell voters personally his intentions for running.

Himself a senior citizen, Saavedra challenged his fellow to show medical records to prove they are fit to serve at City Hall. He cited the late mayor Edgardo Labella as example who went in and out of the hospital several times before passing away in late 2021.

Without naming names, Saavedra said he reportedly saw candidates that appear sickly during the signing of the peace covenant.

Security

"So far… the activity was done successfully except for the added little inconvenience sa atong traffic because they have conducted a motorcade… the first day (as of now) is every successful and generally peaceful and I hope it will go that way until mahuman atoang election,” said Police Lt. Colonel Janett Rafter, chief of the operations branch of the Cebu City Police Office.

She said the city police have 200 cops on standby in case political candidate request for security.

“We have 200 personnel per day to conduct security coverage para sa atong mga poetical rallies, not only for one political party, but for Cebu City,” she said.

In Cebu Province, Lt. Col. Mark Sucalit, the deputy provincial director, also said that Day 1 of the campaign period was generally peaceful.

He said the entire police force was at maximum deployment and all station chiefs were tasked to enforce anti-criminality operations to avoid the possibility of having criminals used in election-related violence.

Just like in Cebu City, Cebu Province also has a quick response team on standby for the whole duration of the local campaign.

Health Protocols

Rafter admits that enforcing COVID health protocols will be a challenge during campaigns as crowds will be difficult to control.

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has since reminded candidates to observe minimum health protocols during the campaign period.

Rafter said they have already coordinated with campaign organizers and have sought the help of barangay personnel.

"With regard sa mga conduct og sorties sa mga different barangays, dili man gyud nato mapugngan nga naa man gyud nay mga tapok-tapok sa barangay… we are also involving the barangay officials because they are also part of the law enforcement,” she said.

Gubernatorial candidate Ace Durano himself urged COMELEC to revisit or reassess its campaign rules as these were issued when Cebu and other areas were still under Alert Level 3.

“Kay pagpagawas sa COMELEC sa ilang protocols, Alert Level 3 pa ta unya karon Alert Level 1 na man… they should revisit their protocols kay lisud kaayo na tumanon. We, as candidates, cannot tell our supporters nga ayaw og duol namo ha… ayaw og pa-selfie namo ha… ayaw og gakos nako ha… lisud kaayo na namo i-implement. Unless siguro naa gyud taga COMELEC nga mobadlong sa katawhan,” Durano said.

Province

One Cebu led by Governor Gwendolyn Garcia and running mate, Dr. Maria Theresa Heyrosa, chose to kick its campaign in the southern town of Barili, the bailiwick of the Garcias. There, Garcia hit the previous administration for "neglecting" Cebuanos for the past 6 years.

“Nakasulay mo unom ka tuig nga walay pagtagad. Nakasulay bahig-bahig ang pagtabang. Nakasulay sa ngil-ad nga pamolitika, personal nga mga interest ang gilantaw. Nakasulay mo nga ang kadalanan nga labing gubaa. Mg BHW, BNS, daycare, BAHA, kamong tanan, tanod wala man lang gani mapun-i bisag piso ang inyong incentive. Ngil-ad nga pamolitika,” Garcia said.

She also threw shade at Vice Governor Hilario Davide III who is running with Durano who she said did not make his presence at the height of the province’s response against COVID-19.

"Dili tood mobabag pero wala sad motabang. Kakita bitaw mo nako, halos gipuga na nako akong utok,” Garcia said.

An eye doctor by profession, Heyrosa said she will help Garcia’s health programs if she wins in the elections.

One Cebu Secretary General, Third District Rep. Pablo John Garcia also urged voters in Barili to give his sister her fifth term as governor to that Capitol’s quality service will continue.

“Ari ta sa kahoy nga kapila na nga namunga. Ari ta sa kahoy nga “GAHE” Garcia-Heyrosa. Di ta atong itanom pa nga “Duda”. DuDa man sa pikas diba? Ari ta sa sigurado na,” Pablo John said.

From Barili, One Cebu went to Dumanjug, Ronda, Alcantara, Moalboal, Badian, Alegria, Malabuyoc, and Ginatilan.

Durano and Davide, for their part, started north at Durano’s bailiwick in Danao City.

After a press conference yesterday, the tandem joined a caravan from Danao to Compostela, then Liloan. They also went to Carmen, Catmon, and Borbon, where another rally was held.

Durano has admitted that running against an incumbent like Garcia is like climbing Mt. Apo, which he describes as hard and difficult. The burden, he said, is abated by the overwhelming support he and Davide have received since announcing their tandem.

Meanwhile, Team Mandaue led by Mayor Jonas Cortes visited the public market to interact with vendors after attending Mass at the National Shrine of St. Joseph.

In neighboring Lapu-Lapu City, Team Libre of Mayor Junard Chan kicked off its campaign with a caravan in Olango Island. Another caravan will take place on March 27. – Iris Hazel M. Mascardo , Caecent Noot Magsumbol and Le Phyllis F. Antojado JMO (FREEMAN)