3 more govs in Bicol for Poe–Salceda

LEGAZPI CITY—Sen. Grace Poe can count on the support of four of six governors in the Bicol region, Albay Gov. Joey Salceda said on Sunday.

Salceda, in a text message to the Inquirer, declared that “all Bicol mainland governors are now for Grace Poe,” referring to Governors Edgardo Tallado of Camarines Norte, Miguel Luis Villafuerte of Camarines Sur, Raul Lee of Sorsogon and himself.

Salceda said he was still trying to negotiate with Masbate Gov. Vicente Homer Revil to support Poe.

The governors would meet today in Daet, Camarines Norte, to finalize their commitment of support, he said.

Catanduanes Vice Gov. Jose Teves Jr., who is running for governor, has also committed to support Poe, Salceda said.

On Friday, Salceda bolted the ruling Liberal Party (LP) and announced that he would back Poe’s candidacy.

Early this month, Brian Llamanzares, Poe’s son, campaigned for his mother in Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte.

In his visit to Camarines Norte, Llamanzares met the candidates of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) led by Tallado, including all candidates for mayor in the 12 towns of the province.

In Camarines Sur, Llamanzares met with Migz Villafuerte and his father, former Gov. Luis Raymund “LRay” Villafuerte and business leaders in the province. The Villafuertes are members of the Nacionalista Party (NP).

The younger Villafuerte, who is running for reelection, said a Poe administration would enhance the delivery of basic services to Filipinos.

Andaya’s turnaround

Llamanzares also campaigned in the first district of Camarines Sur where Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr., an NPC member, endorsed Poe in a gathering in Sipocot town.

But the latest word in Camarines Sur indicates that Andaya and his mayoral candidates in the first and second districts had shifted their support to Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and his running mate, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, according to Inquirer sources.

In his statement of support for Poe on Friday, Salceda said it was his duty to join “ang gobyernong may puso” (government with a heart), referring to Poe’s campaign slogan.

He said he was doing this “for the good of Albay, for the good of all Albayanos and for the future of my country.”

Authentic humanism

Salceda said Poe “shares our values of authentic humanism, shares our goals of countryside development and national competitiveness and certainly her compassion will ensure that the impact will be shared by all.”

In a joint statement, LP leaders in Albay said they were not worried about the recent turnaround of Salceda.

Albay Rep. Fernando Gonzalez, in a telephone interview, said the administration party was behind its standard-bearer, Mar Roxas.

LP machinery

He said administration candidates could count on the LP machinery to deliver votes on May 9.

The joint statement was signed by Gonzalez; former Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, who is running in place of his son, Rep. Grex Lagman; Mayors Noel Rosal of Legazpi City and Patricia Gonzalez-Alsua of Ligao City; and former Albay Rep. and former Tabaco City Mayor Krisel Lagman-Luistro.

“[Salceda’s] decision is his own. The LP of the first district and third district, including the cities of Legazpi, Ligao and Tabaco, stand solidly behind Mar Roxas who will have an overwhelming support in Albay,” they said.

Turncoat

Rep. Grex Lagman, in a text message, said: “Salceda is a political turncoat. What else is new? He did a 180-degree turnaround in [the] 2010 [elections] when he junked [his] party mate, Gibo Teodoro (Gilberto Teodoro Jr.) for P-Noy (President Aquino).”

He described Salceda as a “recidivist,” noting that “most party mates in the LP were not surprised [about his decision to leave].”

“We can do better without Salceda,” he said.