Presidential aspirant and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno addresses his supporters at CSI Stadia in Dagupan City during his campaign sortie on Friday, Feb. 18. (Photo by WIllie Lomibao)
DAGUPAN CITY — Presidential candidate Isko Moreno on Friday (Feb. 18) courted residents in vote-rich Pangasinan province and was given a warm welcome in all of the towns he visited.
Although the province is part of the so-called “solid north,” some residents assured Moreno that frontrunner Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. would not get a landslide vote from them.
A resident of Asingan town, an hour drive from this city, said he came to see Moreno to openly support him, expecting that many of his relatives and friends would get angry with him.
“He (Moreno) is the only candidate who invokes God’s help in this presidential race. That’s the reason why my vote is for him,” the resident said.
Moreno thanked the Pangasinenses for welcoming him, admitting that the race would not be easy, especially in the Ilocos region, a known turf of Marcos.
From Dagupan, Moreno and his team proceeded to the towns of Sison, Laoac and Pozorrubio to continue his campaign.
“Endorsements are welcome, but I want to go directly to the people. We are focused on reaching the people on the streets, sa bangketa, to talk to them and know the issues in the areas,” he said.
He added: “We will go to the mountains of Tralala, hangga’t may tao we will go. This also teaches us good lessons on the realities of life,” he added.
Pangasinan, with 2 million voters, is the third vote-rich province in the country, next to Cebu and Cavite.
In 2016, Marcos garnered 813,709 votes while the eventual winner, Leni Robredo, got 260,694 votes. Robredo is again running against Marcos for the country’s top post.
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