Poe, Escudero head to vote-rich Cebu

By: Carmel Loise Matus - 9 years ago

REACHING FOR THE TOP Sen. Grace Poe and her running mate, Sen. Chiz
Escudero, launch their kick-off rally on Tuesday at Plaza Miranda in Quiapo, Manila. EDWIN BACASMAS

TOLEDO CITY – A day after formally launching their campaign at Plaza Miranda in Manila, Senators Grace Poe and Francis “Chiz” Escudero went to this city to woo the voters of the province with highest number of electorates in the country.

Poe, who is running for president, and her running mate, Escudero, arrived in Toledo, about 46 km west of Cebu City, past 7 .a.m. and were received by former Toledo Mayor Aurelio “Rudy” Espinosa, patriarch of the city’s Espinosa clan.

Espinosa, who was city mayor from 1992 to 2001, promised his family’s support for Poe and Escudero as well as to senatorial candidates Lorna Kapunan and Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno who joined the two in their visit.

The Espinosas had breakfast with Poe’s group.

Escudero told a news conference that they would give special attention to Cebu and its 2.5 million voters during their campaign.

They intend to visit the province at least three to four times during the campaign period.

Poe’s group later went to the University of the Visayas Toledo City campus for a dialogue with about 300 students.

Five university students were selected to ask questions.

One student sought Poe’s stand on the territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea.

Poe said the West Philippine Sea is within the country’s territory and should be protected by a strengthened military force.

Poe and her group left Toledo City on board a chopper for Camotes Island at 10:30 a.m. CDG