Supporters join Senate aspirant Samira Gutoc (center, right) in praying for peace in Mindanao and the elections as she kicks off her campaign on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2019, in Caloocan City. INQUIRER.NET / CONSUELO MARQUEZ
MANILA, Philippines — Other candidates may have invested in flashy political advertisements, but for civic leader Samira Gutoc, the stories of Marawi siege victims will serve as an inspiration for her campaign.
“Wala akong billboard pero ang kwento ninyo ang billboard ko. Wala akong advertisement, ang advertisement ko ang kwento niyo. Ang kayamanan ko, ang kwento ng mga katutubo,” Gutoc said on Tuesday during a Muslim prayer rally in Caloocan City.
READ: LOOK: Gutoc starts campaign with prayer for Mindanao, elections
The civic leader also appealed to the public to not forget the victims of Marawi siege.
“Dapat hindi na natin makalimutan ang one thousand dead. Kamusta yung mga na-displace? How are they? Returned to normalcy is far from normal,” she said.
Gutoc also took pride in her educational background despite her lack of popularity.
“Wala akong malaking pangalan kundi credibilidad. Nag-aral naman ako sa Oxford at sa UP,” Gutoc said.
Gutoc was referring to her degrees in Communications and International Studies at the University of the Philippines-Diliman and fellowship at the Oxford Center for Islamic Studies.
Gutoc is running for senator under the Otso Diretso slate along with Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano, re-electionist Senator Bam Aquino, human-rights lawyer Chel Diokno, former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay, election lawyer Romulo Macalintal, former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas and former Deputy Speaker Erin Tañada. /jpv