UNA banking on Cojuangco bet for vote ‘harvest’ in Tarlac

Margarita “Tingting” Cojuangco. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

TARLAC, Philippines — Tarlac may be the perceived bailiwick of the Aquinos but the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) on Thursday said it was confident that they could still “harvest” enough votes from the province with the help of former Tarlac Governor Margarita “Tingting” Cojuangco.

Cagayan Representative Jack Enrile told reporters at the sidelines of the opposition’s motorcade here that they were counting on Cojuangco and her husband former Tarlac Representative Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. to deliver votes come election day.

“We have Tingting Cojuangco as one of our candidates and (former) Congressman Peping Cojuangco is respected leader in Tarlac. (The) machinery they have established will help us… (and) we have confidence that we will “harvest” from this provice,” said Enrile.

“Hindi komo’t dehado ang UNA sa isang lugar hindi na papansinin. It is very important that we win in all areas,” he added.

Tarlac is dominated by the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), led by Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco, the uncle of President Benigno Aquino III.

UNA deputy campaign manager and Valenzuela Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian said that UNA had a strong chance of getting the support in Tarlac, calling Cojuangco the “ace” up their sleeve.

And the opposition is sure that Cojuangco will not let Team PNoy secure 12-0 votes in Tarlac, assured Nancy Binay, daughter of Vice President Jejomar Binay.

UNA kicked off its campaign activities in Tarlac this morning, starting with a motorcade from Concepcion Market at 8:30 a.m. which will lead its candidates to a rally at the Tarlac City Plazuela by 7:30 p.m.

Binay said their “hectic” schedule was proof of UNA’s efforts to secure votes from the province.

Enrile said that they had a lot of ground to cover in Tarlac and insisted that just because the Liberal Party-led coalition was perceived as stronger in a certain area did not mean that they would not campaign there.

“We have a chance here in Tarlac… but we are realistic. We understand that the LP is strong in certain areas,” he said.