Presidential campaign: Week 10

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 — Here are some of the highlights of the presidential candidates activities in Week 10 of the campaign for the May 2022 elections.

Leody de Guzman #2

■ April 9 – Held party caucus in Barangay Biliran, Binangonan, Rizal province; attended University of the Philippines Visayas online forum

■ April 10 – Unveiled four-point health agenda via social media

■ April 11 – No scheduled activity

■ April 12 – Joined workers’ assembly in Bagbaguin, Caloocan; joined condemnation of fake sex video of one of Vice President Leni Robredo’s daughters

■ April 13 – Took part in San Beda College online forum, then another held by Doctors to the Barrios

– Recorded interview with Ateneo de Manila University’s The Guidon; called on Department of Education to restore history as separate subject

■ April 16 – Joined online forum held by Transnational Migrant Platform – Europe

Key message: “The (current) view on matters of health is narrow: It’s more focused on ‘universal health care,’ medical insurance, hospitalization and treatment, instead of an overall outlook that ensures nutrition and healthy food, clean air and water, increasing resistance to and avoidance of diseases, and other means that will guarantee the physical and mental health of Filipinos.” (April 10 statement)

—JEROME ANING

Isko Moreno Domagoso #3

■ April 10 – Met with fire victims in Binondo, Manila; discussed situation with local police during campaign period

– Held grand rally in Manila; performers led by his actor son, Joaquin Domagoso; organizers claimed peak crowd of 80,000.

■ April 11 – Leyte events canceled due to bad weather; returned to City Hall for work

■ April 12 – Motorcade from San Pedro, Laguna province, to Muntinlupa City

– Faction of his volunteer group IM Pilipinas defected to Vice President Leni Robredo

■ April 13 – Motorcades in Pampanga, meetings with local officials; town hall meeting in San Fernando

– Three regional pro-Marcos groups shifted support to Domagoso and Sara Duterte; they included original leaders of Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, Marcos Pa Rin and Kilusang Bagong Lipunan Baguio-Benguet chapter

■ April 16 – No schedule

Key message: “This is a democracy. They (IM Pilipinas faction) can do whatever they want to do. They’re entitled to their opinion. They said they have so much anger toward Marcos. But I have no anger toward Marcos.” (April 12 interview in San Pedro, Laguna)

—DJ YAP

Ping Lacson #5

■ April 11 – Attended flag ceremony at Camp Crame, then witnessed ceremonial turnover of office and police equipment to the Philippine National Police from PNP Foundation Inc.

– Guested at Kapihan ng Samahang Plaridel forum at the Manila Hotel, with running mate Sen. Vicente “Tito” Sotto III and senatorial aspirant Minguita Padilla

■ April 12 – In interview on EMedia Mo, a Zamboanga City radio station, explained how pandemic became a major factor in his decision to seek presidency

– Took part in Senate inquiry into unabated smuggling of agricultural products, where four people were identified as top smugglers of vegetables and seafood

■ April 13 – Sorties in Iloilo postponed due to Tropical Storm “Agaton” (Megi).

■ April 16 – No public event scheduled

Key message: “We noticed that we were having a good number of conversions, mainly because we are able to engage. We were able to address [the people’s] problems and we try to resolve them either immediately or prospectively. So they see that this team really will work for them.” (April 11 remarks at Kapihan ng Samahang Plaridel forum)

—MELVIN GASCON

Bongbong Marcos #7

■ April 10 – Met with 15 governors at Mandaluyong City campaign headquarters; discussed how his votes can be protected, as well as their priority programs in the provinces

■ April 11 – No public engagements, but team issued a statement claiming 73 of 81 governors were supporting him, without naming them and only quoting Quezon Gov. Danilo Suarez

■ April 12 – Secured endorsement of Garcia-led One Cebu Party, as well as the mayors of Cebu City, Mandaue City, Lapu-Lapu City and Talisay City

■ April 13 -Back in vote-rich Quezon City for rally on IBP Road, without running mate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte; mayoralty candidate Rep. Mike Defensor hosted rally

■ April 16 – No public event scheduled

Key message: “In fact, after we came down from the stage after signing the different resolutions, I whispered to the [House] Majority Floor Leader [Martin Romualdez], saying that One Cebu joined us, Cebu Island also joined us, so we have a chance to win.” (April 12 message during One Cebu Party general assembly)

—NESTOR CORRALES

Manny Pacquiao #9

■ April 11 – In Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte, met with local officials, pastors and residents in a people’s assembly

– Called for continued trust in Commission on Elections (Comelec) amid complaints on first day of overseas absentee voting

■ April 12 – Stumped in Zamboanga del Norte and Misamis Occidental; held motorcade, people’s assembly and prayer rally in the cities of Oroquieta and Ozamiz

– Asked Comelec to let him send aid to victims of Tropical Storm “Agaton” (international name: Megi), lest he be accused of vote-buying

■ April 13 – Joined proclamation rally of local candidates under his party Promdi in Tangub City, Misamis Occidental

– Visited Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur, paying courtesy calls on local officials and holding community assembly

■ April 16 – No public event set

Key message: “I’m not pleading with incumbent officials for support because they might ask me later to return the favor. As I said, this is a war on corrupton, where I will show the people that our country can change.” (April 13 briefing in Pagadian)

—JULIE M. AURELIO

Leni Robredo #10

■ April 11 – Attended meetings, helped organize distribution of relief goods for victims of Tropical Storm “Agaton” (Megi) in Eastern Visayas

■ April 12 – Held campaign rally attended by some 6,000 supporters in San Fernando City, La Union, part of the so-called solid north bailiwick of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

– Flew to Virac, Catanduanes, in the afternoon for another rally; crowd estimated at 20,000

■ April 13 – Met with Bishop Jose Bantolo, other local Church leaders at Liceo de Masbate in Masbate City

– Spoke before some 40,000 people in a rally held along Jesse Robredo Boulevard, a road named in honor of her husband, the late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, who died in a plane crash in the waters off Masbate in 2012.

– Spent the rest of Holy Week with family in their hometown Naga City.

Key message: “The conduct of elections is a reminder that real power rests in the hands of ordinary people. An election is always a chance for us to [hit] the reset button.” (April 13 remarks at meeting with clergy in Masbate City)

—MARLON RAMOS

RELATED STORIES

Week 9 on presidential campaign trail

Presidential campaign Week 8 recap

Week 7 on presidential campaign trail