Week 6 on presidential campaign trail

MANILA, Philippines — Here are some of the highlights of Week 6 of the campaign of six of the presidential candidates.

Leody de Guzman #2

■ March 13 – Continued sorties in Mindanao; met with urban poor, farmers, fisherfolk, youth groups in Lanao del Norte towns; dinner with Iligan City independent candidate for councilor Dominic Carillo.

■ March 14 – Spoke before youth supporters in Iligan; at online press conference of Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino, pushed for P750 minimum wage hike in Metro Manila and other regions.

– Attended forum on energy in Iligan

■ March 15 – In Davao, held dialogue with women, farmers and workers groups in Wangan; attended Bibotante online forum of Polytechnic University of the Philippines-Quezon City

– In a statement, said he remained unfazed by low score in latest Pulse Asia survey since his platforms were reaching wider audience

■ March 16 – Attended online forum held by Central Luzon State University in Muñoz City, Nueva Ecija; met with children’s rights groups in Ulas, Davao City

■ March 17 – Interviewed by radio station RNG Davao

■ March 18 – Took part in online forum on transportation held by Move as One Coalition

■ March 19 – Attended Commission on Elections (Comelec) presidential debate.

Key message: “Quality education does not only lead to high-paying jobs … [I]t is crucial in the overall development of the country, including economic, political, cultural and social, and in leading all Filipinos [to become] responsible citizens belonging to the community of nations … If we leave education in the hands of the private sector, it will not become a basic right [for all] but a privilege only for those who can afford it.” (March 18 statement)

—JEROME ANING

Isko Moreno Domagoso #3

■ March 13 – Kicked off three-day tour of Bicol, the bailiwick of Vice President Leni Robredo, starting in Masbate province

■ March 14 – Continued wooing Bicolano voters in Sorsogon, skipping Robredo’s hometown Naga City in Camarines Sur; was joined by late Sen. Raul Roco’s son Robbie Pierre Roco- Complained of chest pain, but given a clean bill of health by his running mate, Dr. Willie Ong

– Aksyon Demokratiko wrote the Department of Education over an alleged campaign violation of Robredo camp by attempting to use a school in Alcala town in Cagayan Valley for a partisan activity

■ March 15 – Last day of Bicol jaunt, held town hall meetings in Albay towns of Oas and Daraga and in Ligao City.

■ March 16 – Flew to Negros Island to woo Ilonggo voters; barnstormed Bacolod and Silay cities.

■ March 17 – Last day of campaigning in Negros Occidental; town hall meetings in Kabankalan City and Hinoba-an.- In interview with reporters, took a swipe at former Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. over his family’s unpaid tax obligations, his refusal to attend presidential debates and his motherhood stump speech; “You can’t eat unity,” Domagoso said.

■ March 18 – Barnstormed in Cavite; motorcades in Bacoor, Imus and Kawit; campaign rally at Kawit Freedom Park.

■ March 19 – Attended Comelec debate

Key message: “It’s not a perfect presidency, in fact, any president for that matter, and there’s no perfect situation … [But] I think it’s better [than President Duterte’s predecessors] in all fairness.” (March 15 ambush interview)

—DJ YAP

Ping Lacson #5

■ March 14 – With running mate, Sen. Vicente Sotto III, kicked off Cagayan Valley leg of campaign, starting with a rally in Cauayan City, Isabela; spoke at city government’s flag ceremony, recalling his years as provincial director of the now-defunct Philippine Constabulary, during the Marcos regime and noted that nearby Jones town is the birthplace of the communist New People’s Army.

■ March 15 – Off to Tuguegarao City in Cagayan province, met with local officials and held town hall meeting where he lauded city’s “innovative” People’s Day program, which he hoped to replicate nationwide if elected president

– Motored to Sanchez-Mira town for consultative meeting with sectoral representatives; tweeted about the stream of campaign donations that he continued to receive from “old and new friends and true believers” despite latest results of Pulse Asia survey showing him getting only 2 percent of the respondents

■ March 16 – In Maddela, Quirino, received support from local officials led by Mayor Rimel Tolentino

– Backed proposals to implement four-day work week for Filipinos to save on gas amid rising fuel prices

■ March 17 and March 18 – No scheduled public events

■ March 19 – Joined the Comelec presidential debate held at the Sofitel hotel

Key message: “Now that campaign funds are supposed to come by hard and seldom, old and new friends and true believers in our fight for good governance and against the evils of corruption volunteer their support by contributing to our campaign. I couldn’t thank them enough.” (March 17 tweet).

—MELVIN GASCON

Bongbong Marcos #7

■ March 13 – Held motorcade in Las Piñas City, followed by rally at The Tent Vista Global South in Barangay Pulang Lupa Uno; campaign team claimed that 500,000 people showed up for these events, but Las Piñas police estimated that only about 18,000 attended.

■ March 14 – No public engagements scheduled this day

■ March 15 – Held a rally with his running mate, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, in Santa Rosa town, Nueva Ecija, hosted by Gov. Aurelio Umali; motorcade from Cabanatuan City to Talavera town.

■ March 16 – As a guest at Kapihan sa Manila Bay media forum, said he would rather take his campaign directly to the people rather than attend presidential debates

■ March 17 – Motorcade in Bataan province, from Pilar to Balanga; met with Bishop Ruperto Santos at the Cathedral Parish of St. Joseph in Balanga

– Bataan Gov. Albert Garcia and Bataan Rep. Geraldine Roman gave their endorsement to the Marcos-Duterte tandem

– Held a rally in Iba, Zambales, without his running mate; Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. endorsed the tandem

■ March 18 – No public engagement this day

■ March 19 – Skipped Comelec presidential debate, as camp earlier announced, but sat down to be interviewed on government station PTV by anchor Erwin Tulfo and Communications Secretary Martin Andanar

– Wrapped up the day with Uniteam rally in Marikina City

Key message: “If we are going to repeat and repeat and repeat and repeat the same thing, then I’d rather campaign.” (March 16, Kapihan sa Manila Bay)

—NESTOR CORRALES

Manny Pacquiao #9

■ March 14 – Faced assembly of Liga ng mga Barangay-Eastern Visayas chaper at SMX, Pasay City; vowed protection of fishermen in Philippine territorial waters if he’s elected.

■ March 15 – Held private meetings; reiterated proposal to hold special session of Congress to deal with soaring fuel prices by suspending value-added tax, excise on fuel.

■ March 16 – More private meetings; led groundbreaking rites for his 4-hectare housing project in Barangay Libi, Malapatan, Sarangani; graced inauguration of east wing of Sarangani Provincial Hospital

■ March 17 – With senatorial candidate JV Ejercito, campaigned in Isulan and Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat, and later in Tantangan, South Cotabato;

– Said voters should not expect accountability, good governance from candidates who refuse to take part in debates; proposed that government give a sack of rice monthly to every poor household instead of a “measly” monthly aid of P200

■ March 18 – Issued statement asking Comelec to uphold integrity and prevent fraud in 2022 elections, even if there is only “1-percent doubt’’ in minds of Filipinos.

■ March 19 – Took part in Comelec presidential debate.

Key message: “It’s scary to have candidates like that in our republic. Once they are elected—even if they commit plunder—they will not consider themselves accountable since they were the choice of people who knew they would eventually steal. How can the people hold such candidates accountable if they themselves put these individuals in power?’’ (March 17 statement)

—JULIE M. AURELIO

Leni Robredo #10

■ March 14 – Received endorsement from Bulacan Gov. Daniel Fernando, who said he was “misquoted” in a Uniteam press release that denied he would support Robredo.

– Eastern Samar Gov. Ben Evardone, a key Duterte ally, also endorsed her, saying she fits the President’s criteria for a leader.

■ March 15 – Barnstormed in General Santos, Pacquiao’s hometown; later in Kidapawan and Koronadal, South Cotabato.

– In GenSan rally that drew about 10,000, asked supporters to “find those who are not yet our allies … knock on doors, listen to their stories.’’

■ March 16 – Met with Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Chief Minister Ahod “Al-Haj Murad” Ebrahim and top aides; Ebrahim said they would need “like-minded leaders” like her to preserve the gains of the peace process.

– Endorsed by Basilan Rep. and Deputy Speaker Mujiv Hataman, who called her their “best chance” against the return of the family who “massacred” Moros during martial law.

– Rally in Isabela, Basilan; crowd estimate at 45,000

■ March 17 – Meet and greet with Basilan women, dialogue with Badjaos; became first presidential bet ever to visit coastal village of Malamawi.

– Zamboanga rally attended by 35,000

■ March 18 – Dialogue with electric coops in Pagadian, Zamboanga del Sur

Key message: “Our routes may be blocked, our means of transport may be stopped, our tarps torn down and our murals painted over or vandalized. But in the face of lies, rain or shine, nobody can stop the consolidated force of the people.’’ (March 17 speech in Zamboanga grand rally)

—KRIXIA SUBINGSUBING

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