Highlights of Week 2 on presidential campaign trail

By: 3 years ago

Election graphics by INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Here are some of the highlights of the second week of the campaign for the presidential race.

Leody de Guzman #2

■ Feb. 15 – Took part in SMNI presidential debate where he pushed for his “workers first” platform; vowed to scrap existing and planned military alliances with the United States, China and other world powers; expressed empathy with communist insurgents who he said took up arms against the government because of social injustice and oppression, not because of ideology.

■ Feb. 17 – Appeared in live and recorded media interviews (ANC, UNTV, RMN, Channel News Asia, Focap and Politiskoop).

– Guested at Hybrid Dialogue and Open Forum on the Economic Compass Pillars 5 (EComP5) organized by the Chambers of Commerce of the Philippine Islands

■ Feb. 18 – Appeared at Klarohay Ta! 2.0 Candidates Forum organized by the University of San Carlos

– Endorsed former Ifugao governor and representative Teddy Baguilat Jr., who is running for senator under the ticket of the Robredo-Pangilinan tandem.

■ Feb. 19 – Visited 1 Padua Compound, Sitio Banaba, Barangay San Luis in Antipolo City to meet with community leaders belonging to Samakaba group regarding residents’ complaints about alleged land-grabbing; unable to enter the community after being blocked by security personnel of Winning Homes Realty and Development Corp.; held program instead outside Winning Homes; used the occasion to protest the cutting of trees in area, warning of deadly landslides.

Key message: “Vote for the sake of our future, not just to make a running politician win.” (Remarks during Feb. 17 EComP5 forum)

—JEROME ANING

Isko Moreno Domagoso #3

■ Feb. 13 – Went on a motorcade in Pasay City; visited victims of a fire in Cavite and pledged P10,000 cash aid each for 790 affected families.

■ Feb. 14 – In Samar for his first official sortie in the Visayas, with running mate Dr. Willie Ong and Aksyon Demokratiko senatorial bets Carl Balita, Samira Gutoc and Jopet Sison.

– Whistlestops in Calbayog and Catbalogan cities.

■ Feb. 15 – In Northern Samar, visited Allen, hometown of his late mother Rosario; laid wreath at monument for acclaimed Filipino sailor Florentino Das

– Whistlestops in Lavezares and Catarman.

■ Feb. 16 – Motorcade in Laguna province, meetings with local officials; Whistlestops: Los Baños, Calamba, Cabuyao.

– Announced two new campaign spokespersons: Manila Councilors Ernesto Isip Jr. and Priscilla Marie Abante, in addition to campaign manager Lito Banayo, who speaks on campaign strategy and Aksyon Demokratiko chair Ernest Ramel on party and election issues.

■ Feb. 17 – Motorcade in La Union, part of the so-called Solid North of the Marcoses; met with Gov. Francisco Ortega III but did not secure endorsement.

– Town hall meeting in Aringgay town; motorcades around San Fernando City, Bauang, Agoo, Sto Tomas.

■ Feb. 18 – Town hall meeting in Dagupan City.

Key message: “I can be their alternative. Besides, I would be happy to get a few votes from this place. Every vote counts. So to the Ilocanos, please spare a few votes for me. That would be a bonus.” (Interview in La Union, Feb. 17)

—DJ YAP

Ping Lacson #5

■ Feb. 17 – With running mate Sen. Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, disclosed in media forum a black propaganda campaign allegedly being waged against them by a group that had supposedly taken offense at Partido Reporma’s anticorruption stand; clarified that Sen. Richard Gordon and former Vice President Jejomar Binay remained in the party’s senatorial lineup

■ Feb. 18 – Traveled to Baguio City for the general assembly of the Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association (PMAAA); Lacson, a member of PMA Class ’71, was the annual event’s guest of honor.

– Held dialogue with local businessmen in the micro, small and medium enterprises sector, as well as representatives of women, labor and farmers groups, at the Newtown Plaza Hotel in Baguio, alongside Mayor Benjamin Magalong who endorsed the Lacson-Sotto tandem and its senatorial lineup.

– Spoke before members of the Rotary Club

■ Feb. 19 – Received Lifetime Achievement Award from the PMAAA for his “exemplary career as a soldier, police officer, lawmaker and government official over five decades.”

– With Sotto and Magalong, campaigned on foot and pressed flesh through Session Road, Baguio City’s main thoroughfare

Key message: “If [a] man had a 5-year-old child now, what would that child see in six years? That’s why when we vote, we should think not just of ourselves but of our children, and of their children.” (Feb. 18 speech in Baguio City)

—MELVN GASCON

Bongbong Marcos #7

■ Feb. 13 – Motorcade in Makati and Mandaluyong; rally in the latter hosted by Mayor Menchie Abalos, the wife of campaign manager Benhur Abalos..

■ Feb. 14 – Met with ex-Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile on his 98th birthday in Tuguegarao; Enrile vowed Cagayan’s “all-out” support- Held rally at Amoranto Sports Complex in Quezon City organized by Anakalusugan Rep. Michael Defensor, who is running for city mayor.

■ Feb. 15 – Attended debate on TV station SMNI of televangelist Apollo Quiboloy, who is accused of sex trafficking and other crimes in the United States.

■ Feb. 16 – Held a caravan in bailiwick Ilocos Norte, starting from Pagudpud town, covering Bangui, Burgos, Pasuquin, Bacarra and ending in Laoag.

– Rally with running mate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte and senatorial candidates at the Paoay sand dunes; Sen. Imee Marcos, Ilocos Norte Gov. Matthew Marcos Manotoc, Rep. Angelo Marcos Barba and Vice Gov. Cecilia Araneta-Marcos present

■ Feb. 17 – Motorcades in Sinait, San Juan, Vigan and Narvacan, Ilocos Sur; rally in Bantay and Narvacan with Mayor Duterte; Narvacan Mayor Chavit Singson and son, Gov. Ryan Singson, endorsed tandem.

■ Feb. 19 – Motorcade, rally in Caloocan City

Key message: “And that is my request from you: If you are going to support me, and I am once again asking for your support, if you will give me that support, it is really necessary that you also include your support for our vice president, Mayor Inday Sara.” (Feb. 16 speech in Paoay, Ilocos Norte)

—NESTOR CORRALES

Manny Pacquiao #9

■ Feb. 14 – Recorded interview with Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines; announced he’ll skip SMNI presidential debate, citing his cyberlibel case against the TV station’s owner, pastor Apollo Quiboloy.

– Toured the USS Jackson, a US Navy warship docked in Manila

■ Feb. 15 – Held closed-door meetings with campaign leaders; urged the Commission on Elections (Comelec), National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections to organize “nonbiased” debates

– Spoke via Zoom in forum organized by Citizens Alliance for Just Peace

■ Feb. 16 – Rode Philippine National Railways train from Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City, to Sta. Mesa, Manila; met with vendors in forum at Sta. Mesa Hippodrome.

■ Feb. 17 – Campaigned in Rodriguez, San Mateo, and Antipolo City in Rizal province, paying courtesy calls to local officials; announced that, if elected president, he would designate House Deputy Speaker and Cibac Rep. “Brother Eddie” Villanueva as anticorruption czar.

■ Feb. 18 – Covered other Rizal towns Taytay, Cainta, Binangonan, Morong and Tanay; met with residents, farmers and vendors in a forum

■ Feb. 19 – Proceeded to Laguna, stumping in Sta. cruz, San Pablo, Calamba and Canlubang; met Gov. Ramil Hernandez and other local officials; defended Comelec’s controversial “Oplan Baklas”

Key message: “Excuse me, ha. I’m a fighter and there’s no turning back. That’s not in my vocabulary … I didn’t step back for my own sake [in my past fights], what more if it’s for the nation?” (Feb. 14 press conference)

—JULIE AURELIO

Leni Robredo #10

■ Feb. 14 – Appeared at “Pusuan ang Sining at Kultura: State of the HeART” at Miriam College, Quezon City, organized by artists supporting her candidacy.

– Received support of national artists Ryan Cayabyab and Ramon Santos (music), Alice Reyes (dance), Virgilio Almario (literature) and Benedicto Cabrera (visual arts)- Joined “Martsa para sa Pag-ibig” and signed a covenant with members of LGBTQIA+ community; later with group “Seniors4Leni,” and then with the Philippine National Police top brass at Camp Crame

■ Feb. 15 – Flew to Roxas City on Panay Island, a Liberal Party turf; met with supporters in Jamindan town

■ Feb. 16 – Visited Ati settlers in Boracay, where she promised the indigenous people that they won’t be evicted from their ancestral lands; backed opposition against creation of Boracay Island Development Authority.

– Attended assembly in Malay, Aklan; visited provincial capitol in San Jose de Buenavista town, Antique; spoke at Antique Plaza; paid courtesy call to Bishop Marvyn Maceda, other local Church leaders.

■ Feb. 17 – Attended online event advocating rights of people with disabilities and signed the “Disability Agenda.”

■ Feb. 18 – Attended virtual launch of Solid Leni-Kiko Global, a group of overseas Filipinos supporting the tandem

Key message: “The biggest thing that we lacked [in 2016], but we now have, is the group of volunteers. They are so invested. I think this is our biggest resource that other [presidential] candidates do not have.” (Feb. 18 speech at launch of Solid Leni-Kiko Global)