Video by Ryan Leagogo/INQUIRER.net
GATHERING more than 2,000 local officials in support of Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, Governor Alfonso Umali on Tuesday said leagues of local government units are solidly behind the Liberal Party’s presidential bet.
Umali, national president of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (Ulap), told INQUIRER.net, “100 percent kami. Buong-buo kami. Lahat ng liga is for Mar Roxas.”
He said they decided to hold the event, held at Gloria Maris in Greenhills, a day after President Benigno Aquino III officially endorsed Roxas.
Umali said they will start holding weekly events. They will bring Roxas to the regions.
“Well alam namin na kayang-kaya naming mag-mobilize. Kasi ang daming may gusto kay Mar eh. Sa amin sa Liga solid kami. Sa lahat ng Liga. So hindi naging problema ito,” he said of the well-attended event.
Umali said they only invited 1,000 officials but more than 2,000 came as board members, vice governors, vice mayors and counselors attended.
During the event, he said local officials should not support him just because Aquino told them so.
“Magkasama tayo hindi lang dahil sabi ni PNoy, hindi lang dahil magkapartido tayo pero dahil totoong naniniwala kayo na magkahanay ang mag paniniwala natin…na totoong type din ninyo ako,” he said.
Ulap is composed of the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP), League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP), League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP), Liga ng mga Barangay sa Pilipinas (LnB), Provincial Board Members League of the Philippines (PBMLP), League of Vice-Governors of the Philippines (LVGP), Vice-Mayors League of the Philippines (VMLP), Philippine Councilors’ Leagues (PCL), Lady Local Legislators League of the Philippines (4L), National Movement of Young Legislators (NMYL), and Pambansang Pederasyon ng Sangguniang Kabataan (PPSK).