Aquino endorses 12 senate bets, Cebu local candidates

President Benigno Aquino III last night urged people to vote for his 12 handpicked Senate candidates, saying it was better to have allies on board to push “good governance” and honest service.

“Kung boboto tayo na hindi kaalyado, baka maging angkla sila para di tayo makausad. Mas maganda marami tayong kaalyado,” he said at the Tabunok gym in Talisay City for the Liberal Party’s proclamation rally.

(If you vote those who are not our allies, they may become burdens hold back our progress. It’s better to have more allies.)

He took a dig at suspended Gov. Gwen Garcia, when he introduced the LP’s Cebu gubernatorial bet Hilario Davide III as someone who would not hang on to power.

“Hindi siya magpapakulong sa Kapitolyo upang takasan ang pananagutan,” Aquino told the audience which burst into laughter. (He doesn’t hole himself up at the Capitol to avoid accountability.)

LAST-MINUTE CHANGE

A sudden downpour almost reduced yesterday’s Liberal Party kick-off rally of Senate bets in Cebu to a muddy event.

The venue was changed at the last minute to the 5,000-capacity Tabunok covered gym, instead of an open lot in front of Talisay City Hall where a stage was already set up.

With people spilling out of the packed gym, Senior Supt. Patrocinio Comendador Jr., Cebu provincial police chief, said the rally drew 16,000 to 18,000 people.The police estimate was more than three times the 5,000 crowd target LP Cebu organizers said they expected to gather. Another LP rally will be held tomorrow in Tayud, Liloan town in north Cebu.

At least 17 Cebu mayors were seen in the kick-off rally, less than half of Cebu’s 53 city and town mayors. Majority of the mayors are affiliated with Garcia-led One Cebu party.

Cebu’s record as a bailiwick of Aquino, who won 1 million votes in the 2010 presidential election, was emphasized by his main allies.

Davide, LP Cebu chairman, thanked the President for visiting Cebu despite the bad weather, a tropical depression that canceled an earlier trip to Dumaguete City.

“Alam namin pinangga nyo ang Cebu at pinangga namin kayo.”“

“Sisiguruhin namin dito sa Cebu na kayong lahat ay mananalo dahil alam po namin na kayo ang personal na pinili nga Pangulo para itaguyod ang kaniyang economic programs and good governance,” Davide said.

(We know Cebu is very special to you, and you are special to us as well. We will make sure all of you will win in Cebu because we know you were all personally selected by the President to establish his economic programs and good governance.)

HALF PRESENT

In a half-hour speech, President Aquino introduced by name each of his 12 senatorial candidates.

Half of them went on stage to make brief speeches. The other six were no-shows or sent proxies to face the crowd.

Cynthia Villar was represented by her son Las Piñas Rep. Mark Villar.

Reelectionist Sen. Loren Legarda sent her 19-year-old-son Leandro Leviste.

Sonny Angara’s wife Tootsie spoke on behalf of her spouse.

Sen. Antonio Trillanes was represented by fellow Magdalo officer from Cebu Ashley Acedillo who said Trillanes would join LP’s campaign rally tomorrow in Liloan town instead.

Chiz Escudero was absent. His aide, Girlie Amarillo told CDN the senator’s flight got cancelled because of bad weather and his schedule also got tight with a television program taping in Manila. Escudero also didn’t attend the UNO proclamation rally in Plaza Independencia last week.

Also absent was reelectionist Sen. Peter Alan Cayetano although Cayetano flew into Cebu in the morning.

People cheered and shouted “Noynoy”, making the “L” laban sign as President Aquino entered the building at 6:50 p.m., escorted by Cabinet Secretary Rene Alemendras.

During her turn to speak, senatorial candidate Grace Poe was emotional as she recalled how her father, the late actor Fernando Poe Jr. lost heavily in Cebu in the 2004 presidential election.

In tears, Poe said her father was cheated of votes and that it took a while before she finally decided to be on a Cebuano stage to campaign for her candidacy. “Hindi po namin sinisisi ang Cebu pero dito natalo si FPJ ng napakalaki,” said Poe who had to pause to regain her composure. (We don’t blame Cebu but FPJ lost here by such a wide margin.) In 2004, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo won in Cebu with a landslide 965,630 votes. Poe was a far second with 123,099 votes. Other contenders Panfilo Lacson, Raul Roco and Eddie Villanueva polled less than 50,000 votes each based on Cebu Daily News’ report of the vote count.

Poe said she was running for a senate seat in May to continue her father’s dream to uplift the living conditions of the poor.

She said she would focus on a lunch program for elementary school children, support farmers and help the graduates find good jobs.

SIMPLE STAGE

The stage décor was a simple tarpaulin banner welcoming President Aquino. Supporters in yellow and orange shirts filled the complex. Tarp banners of candidates and yellow balloons hung on the sides of the complex.

The sports center was overflowing with people, who also lined the roads outside waiting for the President to arrive. The rally started at 6:30 p.m. with campaign manager, Sen. Franklin Drilon. The President was met by acting Gov. Agnes Magpale, former Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. and his son, Junjun, Cebu City south district Rep. Tomas Osmeña and wife, Councilor Margot Osmena, Congressmen Ramon Red Durano VI (5th district) and Gabriel Luis Quisumbing (6th district) were also there.

There was no sight of Rep. Eduardo Gullas, who is running for mayor of Talisay although he earlier announced support for President Aquino’s Senate lineup and ordered Alayon mayors of the 1st district to attend.

Talisay Mayor Socrates Fernandez sent his staffers to help set up the rally stage. Also present were 2nd district LP mayors Edsel Galeos of Argao, Marilyn Wenceslao of Santander, and Raymond Calderon of Samboan. For the 3rd district, Barili Mayor Teresito Marinas and Democrito Diamante of Tuburan attended. Bogo City Mayor Celestino Martinez Jr. of the 4th district was there. The biggest attendance was from the 5th district Bakud party: Sogod Mayor Moonyen Durano, Borbon Mayor Bernard Sepulveda, Carmon Mayor Dan Jusay, Poro Mayor Luciano Rama Jr., San Francisco Mayor Al Arquillano, Pilar Mayor Jesus Fernandes and Tudela Mayor Erwin Yu. In the 6th district, all three LP mayors were there – Jonas Cortes of Mandaue, Adelino Sitoy of Cordova town and Teresa Alegado of Consolacion.with Carmel Matus, Christine Emily Pantaleon