Highlights of the third week of the presidential campaign

SIX PRESIDENTIAL BETS (left to right, starting on top): Vice President Leni Robredo, former Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Sr., labor leader Leody de Guzman, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, Sen. Panfilo Lacson, and Sen. Manny Pacquiao. (FILE PHOTOS)

MANILA, Philippines — Following are some of the highlights of the third week of the presidential campaign for the May 2022 elections.

Leody de Guzman #2

■ Feb. 20 – Met with urban poor settlers facing demolition in Tonsuya, Malabon City

– Launched website to provide campaign updates, recruit volunteers and receive contributions

■ Feb. 21 – Sortie in Cebu City; met with local Sanlakas chapter

– In Mandaue, met with and got endorsements of local politicians, including Cebu gubernatorial bet and former tourism secretary Ace Durano, reelectionist Vice Gov. Hilario Davide III.

■ Feb. 22 – Regarding Marcos-Duterte tandem being backed by Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, said he believes TUCP members will vote for candidate with track record of helping workers

■ Feb. 23 – Attended forum hosted by University of Sto. Tomas political science department

■ Feb. 24 – Protested “domain grabbing” incident wherein website using his name was created but redirected users to website of rival Marcos; recorded interview with show host Boy Abunda

■ Feb. 25 – Held online meeting with officials of Albay Electric Cooperative.

■ Feb. 26 – Attended online forum held by Davao Association of Catholic Schools; spoke at general assembly of Sanlakas-Quezon City chapter, joined by Mayor Joy Belmonte.

Key message: “It’s painful to look back at the failures of Edsa 1986, especially among the generations of workers who took part in it. We planted the seeds, harvested and cooked the grain, but it was the elite who ate it. In the next ‘Edsa’, the mistake of having elitist leaders … should be avoided.” (Feb. 25 press statement)

—JEROME ANING

Isko Moreno Domagoso #3

■ Feb. 20 – First visit to Mindanao since announcing candidacy; held activities in Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat; met with officials in Buluan and Tacurong City

– Rally organized by Maguindanao Rep. Esmael Mangudadatu; running mate Willie Ong not present

■ Feb. 21 – Courtesy call on BARMM Chief Minister Murad Ebrahim, who called him “our incoming president.”- Motorcade in Cotabato City and Kidapawan City; meetings with local officials- Posters, tarps showing Isko-Sara pairing appeared.- On Facebook Live, Ong addressed reports he was hurt for being left out of Mindanao sorties, said “We will carry on.”

■ Feb. 22 – Entered General Santos, Pacquiao’s home turf; meet-and-greet with business, civic leaders.- Townhall meeting at Oval Plaza Gym; explained Ong’s absence, saying he wanted to “spare (Ong) the embarrassment” of a cold reception from their Mindanao hosts who preferred younger Duterte for VP.

■ Feb. 2 – Back stumping with Ong in Marikina City, and in Cainta and Taytay, Rizal; said there was no rift, but Ong did not deny he was hurt.

■ Feb. 24 – Campaigned in Cavite; adopted former Agrarian Reform Secretary John Castriciones in senatorial slate; he is with PDP-Laban and supports Isko-Sara pairing.

■ Feb. 25 – Back to Cavite for motorcade, activities

Key message: “For me, if there are people who like Doc [Willie] but not me, that is the person’s right. We are candidates and the people vote based on their preferences and give support based on their preferences.” (Feb. 23 interview in Marikina)

—DJ YAP

Ping Lacson #5

■ Feb. 22 – Together with running mate Sen. Tito Sotto, campaigned in Laguna province, with stops in Santa Cruz, Los Baños, and Santa Rosa towns; and the cities of Biñan and Calamba; joined by senatorial bets Dr. Minguita Padilla and Guillermo Eleazar, and adopted candidates Manny Piñol, Gregorio Honasan and JV Ejercito

– Visited public markets and held town hall meeting

■ Feb. 23 – Appeared at the Senate committee hearing on the mysterious disappearance of 31 “e-sabong” workers

■ Feb. 25 – Held caravan around Batangas City, before proceeding to Batangas City Convention Center, where he and Sotto were joined by Mayor Beverly Dimacuha, Rep. Marvey Marino and community leaders of Batangas City

– Paid courtesy call on Rosario town Mayor Manny Alvarez, local officials and leaders, before going on a caravan to the town’s public market- Proceeded to San Juan town and met with Mayor Ildebrando Salud and local leaders; held a consultation with sectoral leaders at the municipal gymnasium

– Moved to Padre Garcia town, paid courtesy call on Mayor Celsa Rivera and held a dialogue with sectoral leaders at Padre Garcia Cultural Center

– Barnstormed in Tanauan town in Batangas, wrapped up day with rally at Tanauan InstituteKey message: “(To fix the government) is what we can still contribute in our remaining years in public service. There are a lot of things that need to be fixed. So let us unite and help each other repair the government for the betterment of every Filipino” (Feb. 22 speech in Sta. Cruz, Laguna)

—MELVIN GASCON

Bongbong Marcos #7

■ Feb. 20 – Held a motorcade in Manila; issued statement to deny he had been avoiding handshakes as seen in another motorcade video, saying he was just protecting his injured arm; later released a photo showing him with a bandage on left arm, but the image raised more questions among netizens as the video showed him pulling back his right arm from the crowd.

■ Feb. 21 – Attended birthday party of Pampanga Vice Gov. Lilia Pineda with running mate Sara Duterte and their senatorial candidates.

■ Feb. 23 – Held dialogue with sugar planters in Bacolod City; former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo joined meeting.

– Motorcade, rally at Bredco port

■ Feb. 24 – Led ribbon-cutting to open Iloilo campaign headquarters

– Met with barangay officials at Iloilo Convention Center, promised them benefits set under law

– Held rally in Barotac Nuevo, after rallies earlier set at Evelio Javier Freedom Park in Antique and Guimbal National High School in Iloilo were postponed due to protests over his team’s choice of venue.

■ Feb. 25 – Went on motorcade, rally in La Union (as nation marked 36th anniversary of Edsa Revolution)

■ Feb. 26 – Took campaign to Pangasinan

Key message: “If we will look back at the history of the Philippines, at all the crises and challenges that the country faced, we were able to overcome them because we Filipinos were united.’’ (Feb. 24 speech in Iloilo)

—LEILA B. SALAVERRIA

Manny Pacquiao #9

■ Feb. 21 – Met with local leaders from Northern and Central Luzon at campaign headquarters in Makati City, vowed to go after land grabbers and abusive landowners, create special agency that will investigate complaints of poor farmers

■ Feb. 22 – Paid courtesy call on Pateros Mayor Miguel Ponce III; held motorcade and dialogue with fire victims, aid beneficiaries and other Pateros residents

■ Feb. 23 – Visited Balintawak and Farmers markets in Quezon City to see how much food P5,000 can buy and show the purchasing power of a family of four with such a measly monthly income.

■ Feb. 24 – Visit to Pasay City canceled as he was not feeling well; media team said he would use rest period to prepare for Feb. 26 CNN presidential debate

■ Feb. 25 – Visit to Dangwa and Baseco in Manila canceled, again for health reasons

■ Feb. 26 – Visit to Taguig City also canceled for same reasons

Key message: “The 1986 Edsa Revolution ousted a dictator over the massive corruption that caused poverty across the country. But after 36 years, there are more poor people now because nothing has changed in the government and corruption still goes unchecked. If I’ll have the good fortune of becoming president, we will have a ‘2022 Revolution Against Corruption’ and put an end to it. It was done in Hong Kong and Singapore; it can be done here with God’s help.” (Feb. 25 press statement)

—JULIE M. AURELIO

Leni Robredo #10

■ Feb. 22 – Flew to Iligan City to open sorties in northern Mindanao.

– Met with Bishop Jose Rapadas III and other Catholic leaders of the Diocese of Iligan; attended rallies in Iligan and Gingoog.

– Spoke with Tabang Sikad drivers in Cagayan de Oro City; met with Archbishop Jose Cabantan of the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro, who expressed his support.- Rally in Divisoria, Cagayan de Oro (crowd estimated at 10,000)

■ Feb. 23 – Met with Higaonon farmers in Sumilao, Bukidnon; they have been close to her since their 63-day march to Manila in 2007

– Rallies in Maramag town and Malaybalay City, also in Bukidnon; private meeting with local officials of Valencia City

– Met with Bishop Noel Pedregosa and other prelates of the Malaybalay diocese

■ Feb. 24 – Visited Archbishop Midphyl Billones of Archdiocese of Cebu.

– Consultation with residents of Barangay Tangke, a fishing village in Talisay City- Spoke in Talisay, Argao and Toledo; held grand campaign rally in Cebu City.

■ Feb. 25 – Rallies, caravans in Oton, Concepcion, Ajuy, Pototan and Santa Barbara towns and in Passi City in Iloilo

– Campaign rally at Iloilo Sports Complex (crowd estimated at 40,000)

■ Feb. 26 – Off to Guimaras for rally in Jordan town; met with local officials.Key message: “They (our supporters) come from different groups, but they have a common goal. So if at all, this is the real unity. The unity is for the aspirations for the country, not ‘unity’ for political considerations.” (Feb. 24 interview in Talisay City)

—MARLON RAMOS

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