Aquino’s senatorial ticket a ‘non entity’ in Tarlac – UNA

Rep. Tobias Tiangco. SENATE POOL FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–United Nationalist Alliance secretary general Toby Tiangco said Wednesday the opposition party is set to barnstorm the stronghold of rival coalition’s leader, President Benigno Aquino III, on Thursday, noting that the local bets of the Liberal Party (LP) is “practically a non-entity” in the province.

Toby Tiangco, UNA secretary general, said their coalition will take its nine-man senatorial ticket to Tarlac for a motorcade and proclamation rally of its local candidates in a bid to win votes from over 700,000 registered voters in the province.

He said there is hardly an LP candidate in crucial positions, except for the congressional race in Tarlac’s 3rd district that is currently held by independent candidate congressman Jeci Aquino Lapus who is seeking re-election.

Lapus will be going up against former representative Hermie Aquino (the President’s uncle) and Concepcion Mayor Noel Villanueva.

UNA deputy campaign manager Sherwin Gatchalian said that local candidates in Tarlac have already expressed support for UNA senatorial slate.

The Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), headed by the President’s uncle Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco, is the dominant political party in the province.

“Tarlac is a free-zone and UNA believes that the set-up will definitely benefit our senatorial candidates, plus we have an ace up in our sleeve with Governor Tingting Cojuangco,” Gatchalian said, who is running in the first congressional district of Valenzuela under NPC.

Gatchalian said Cojuangco is expected to lead the coalition when they present their platforms to people of Tarlac, of which include plans to push for legislative measures that prioritize agricultural productivity and food security.

The UNA contingent in Tarlac will be led by Tingting Cojuangco, Nancy Binay, JV Ejercito, Jack Enrile, Richard Gordon, Gregorio Honasan, Ernesto Maceda, Mitos Magsaysay and Migz Zubiri.