Senatorial candidate Edward Hagedorn is in Cebu for a two-day campaign sortie and to re-establish his ties with allies in the environmental movement and the Nationalist Peoples Coalition (NPC).
Eduardo “Danding” Conjuangco, NPC chairman emeritus, according to Hagedorn, has assured him that local NPC allies will be supporting his bid for a Senate seat.
The Puerto Princesa City mayor was met by local supporters as his caravan arrived from Dumaguete City at noon yesterday.
Among those who joined Hagedorn was renowned environmental lawyer Antonio Oposa.
Hagedorn’s solid performance for the environment of Palawan and his vision for sustainable development is needed in the Philippine Senate, said Oposa.
Hagedorn said he will be in Danao City today to visit former tourism secretary Joseph “Ace” Durano and “hopefully we will be getting his (Durano’s) support.” Durano is running for the congressional seat of Cebu’s 5th district.
If elected, Hagedorn said he will call for a review of environmental laws and see why these have not been implemented.
Oposa agreed saying that he has compiled over 1,500 pages of Philippine environmental laws, but is sad that only 1 percent has been implemented.
Winnability
While he has not been making it to the top 12 in the SWS and Pulse Asia surveys, Hagedorn is confident that he will get a seat in the Senate in the May 13 polls.
He cited surveys made by online news site www.rappler.com that shows him in 5th spot.
He also claims to rank 4th to 5th in an independent survey initiated by 7 Eleven branches nationwide, and no. 3 in a survey initiated by TV 5.
“It’s a bit difficult because I am running as an independent. Politics is very expensive especially if walang partido but I’m surviving,” he said.
Plans for him to form a third force with Bro. Eddie Villanueva and Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Teddy Casiño did not materialize. But he and Villanueva continue to help each other in their individual campaigning. /Doris C. Bongcac, Chief of Reporters