Week 11 on presidential campaign trail

SIX PRESIDENTIAL BETS (left to right, starting on top): Vice President Leni Robredo, former Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Sr., labor leader Leody de Guzman, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, Sen. Panfilo Lacson, and Sen. Manny Pacquiao. (FILE PHOTOS)

MANILA, Philippines — Following are some of the highlights of the presidential candidates’ activities in their 11th week on the campaign trail.

Leody de Guzman #2

■ April 17 – Back in Mindanao, starting in General Santos City then Tboli, South Cotabato, where he met with Mayor Dibu Tuan and Tboli leaders

– Met with volunteers in Koronadal City; in statement, said rivals’ “withdrawal” calls reeked of “rotten politics”

■ April 18 – Marched against open-pit mining in Tampakan, Lake Sebu towns, Cotabato; met with Yellow Bus Line employees

– In Maramag, Bukidnon, met with Manobo-Pulanguihon tribal leaders from Quezon town who wanted to “repossess” ancestral land already recognized as theirs by the government but was “grabbed” by a plantation owner

■ April 19 – In Quezon, Bukidnon, got shot at as he and other party candidates were accompanying Manobos who set out to move into a section of the plantation; a local organizer and four Manobo leaders were wounded; blamed Quezon mayor’s “goons” for the shooting.

■ April 20 – In Manila, said he would file charges over the shooting

■ April 21 – Joined online press conference of indigenous peoples and peasant groups on April 19 incident;

– Later in Batangas City with congressional bet Carlito Bisa

■ April 22 – Media forum in Quezon City, Earth Day rally in Manila, then sortie in Tumana, Marikina City

■ April 23 – Town hall meeting in San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan; online forum by Polytechnic University of the Philippines

Key message: “I think, the call for withdrawal, publicly, was foul, it’s not nice. If you want unity against Marcos because we object to his style and historical background, then we should unite on the ground.” (April 22 interview on CNN Philippines)

—JEROME ANING

Isko Moreno Domagoso #3

■ April 17 – Press conference with other presidential candidates: Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, former defense chief Norberto Gonzales

– Called on Vice President Leni Robredo to drop out of the race to give less polarizing candidates a chance to defeat survey front-runner Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

– Inaugurated Binondominium 1 vertical housing project in Manila

■ April 18 – Two-day tour of Caraga region, starting with events in the cities of Surigao, Cabadbaran and Bayugan

– Said flak he received over “Robredo withdraw” call was only coming from her followers talking in their own echo chambers

■ April 19 – Day 2 of Caraga events; courtesy calls on local officials

– Courtesy calls on three governors canceled: Francisco Matugas of Surigao del Norte province, Santiago Cane Jr. of Agusan del Sur province and Alexander Pimentel of Surigao del Sur province

■ April 20 – Campaigned in Bohol province, where he was received by Gov. Arthur Yap

– Continued lashing out against Robredo, calling her “godmother of all bullies”

■ April 21 – Rizal events

– Aksyon Demokratiko chair Ernesto Ramel Jr. sent a letter urging the Bureau of Internal Revenue to garnish the bank accounts of Marcos heirs as part of the collection effort for their unpaid P203-billion estate taxes.

■ April 22 – Rally in Caloocan City

■ April 23 – No public schedule given

Key message: “When you allow [bullying], you’re also the biggest bully. You’re the godfather of [bullies], in this case, godmother.” (April 20 ambush interview in Bohol province)

—DJ YAP

Ping Lacson #5

■ April 17 – Joint Easter Sunday press con with rivals Domagoso and Gonzales

■ April 18 – No public event

■ April 19 – Took campaign to Panay Island, starting from Estancia, Iloilo, where he met local officials led by Mayor Melina Requinto; held town hall meeting before moving to Kalibo, Aklan, for another assembly, courtesy calls

– Met with members of Partido Reporma, his erstwhile party before declaring himself an independent

■ April 20 – Off to Caluya island town in Antique, met with officials led by Mayor Rigil Kent Lim; flew to mainland Panay for town hall meeting at Evelio Javier gym

– Met with business leaders and local officials of Santa Barbara; visited Jaro Archbishop Jose Romeo Lazo

■ April 21 – In Mindoro Island, started day with courtesy call on local officials of San Jose, Mindoro Occidental, led by Mayor Romulo Festin; motorcade then rally at town plaza.

– Press conference at Sikatuna Breach Restaurant before heading to Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro, for town hall meeting

■ April 22 – Barnstormed Rizal, with town hall meeting at Ynares Event Center, Antipolo City, then met with local officials led by former Mayor Casimiro “Jun” Ynares III

– Press conference at Eugenio Lopez Center, then to Tanzaville 1, Barangay San Jose, for video shoot

■ April 23 – No public event

Key message: “People can change their minds in a split second. Even after entering the polling booth and before shading the ballots you can still change your mind. That’s why we keep telling voters to be discerning and look at who is the most qualified and experienced.” (April 22 press conference in Rizal)

—MELVIN GASCON

Bongbong Marcos #7

■ April 18 – Returned to vote-rich Cebu, with grand rally hosted by Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, days after he secured endorsement of One Cebu party

– Police Lt Col. Wilbert Parilla, deputy director for operations of the Cebu City Police Station, estimated the crowd at 300,000; explained that while the size of the rally’s venue was only 3 hectares with a normal capacity of 120,000, the big crowd spilled into adjoining alleys

■ April 20 – Brought campaign to Occidental Mindoro and Oriental Mindoro provinces, without running mate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte

– Back to Batangas province for a grand rally in Lipa City, this time with Duterte

■ April 21 – Campaigned in Biñan City, Laguna province; secured the endorsement of Gov. Ramil Hernandez, who had long been silent about his choice for president although he had earlier expressed support for Mayor Duterte

■ April 22 – Met with officials of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao; got the endorsement of several local officials, including Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan, Tawi-Tawi Gov. Yshmael Sali, Maguindanao Gov. Mariam Mangudadatu, and Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Alonto Adiong; they pledged to “safeguard” his victory in the May 9 polls.

■ April 23 – Returned to vote-rich Manila—home turf of rival Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagaso—for campaign rally in the Sampaloc District with Mayor Duterte

Key message: “This is the largest rally in my entire campaign. I thank Cebu for the support and trust.” (April 18 rally speech in Cebu)

—NESTOR CORRALES

Manny Pacquiao #9

■ April 17 – Was invited to joint press conference with rivals Domagoso, Lacson and Gonzales, but did not show up due to delay in his flight from General Santos City to Manila

■ April 18 – Prayer meeting led by Arsenio Tan Ferriol of Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ (4th Watch), a Christian church with a million members worldwide

■ April 19 – Spent day in private meetings

– Campaign manager Salvador Zamora said “divine intervention” made Pacquiao miss the controversial Easter Sunday presser, but claimed he had “every intention” of attending it

■ April 20 – Flew to Laoag City, Ilocos Norte province, for daylong sortie in home province of survey front-runner Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

– Motorcade in Piddig, Solsona, Laoag City, then rally in San Nicolas town

– Said Easter Sunday presser only served as venue to “attack” other candidates, to which he didn’t agree; God must have “protected” him when he missed it

■ April 21 – In Bohol, held motorcade, visited market in Tubigon; met with local candidates, Christian pastors

■ April 22 – Gave radio interviews, held caravan in Tagbilaran City, Dauis and Panglao

– Thanked Nur Misuari, founding chair of the Moro National Liberation Front, for supporting his candidacy

■ April 23 – Prayer rally at Pinaglabanan Shrine in San Juan City

Key message: “Attacking other people and telling them to withdraw was not part of the plan [for the Easter presser]. I expect that we will all run and no one will withdraw. What was said there was unexpected.” (April 20 press conference in Laoag)

—JULIE M. AURELIO

Leni Robredo #10

■ April 18 – Barnstormed Infanta in Quezon, Polilio Island and Marinduque

– In Infanta, assured residents that no government project would be implemented without due process, after hearing their concerns on the controversial Kaliwa Dam project

– Received expressions of support from clergymen in ReINa (Real, Infanta, Nakar), youth leaders and indigenous peoples.

– In Marinduque, was welcomed by ruling Velasco family, with Gov. Presbitero Velasco Jr. crowning her with flowers

■ April 19 – Campaigned in Zambales and Bataan

– In San Narciso, Zambales , met with beneficiaries of her Angat Buhay program, mainly farmers, fisherfolk and women

– Grand rally in Bataan, where no local politician had endorsed Robredo-Pangilinan but priests and lawyers raised their hands; crowd estimated at 35,000

■ April 20 – Off to Dumaguete and Siquijor; in Dumaguete, 20,000 people sang in chorus to greet her “Happy Birthday” in advance

■ April 21 – In northern Cebu to fortify one of her known bailiwicks; became first presidential candidate to visit Bantayan Island

– An estimated 150,000 people show up for grand rally in Mandaue

■ April 22- Endorsed by 1,000 Catholic bishops and priests; also by Kilusang Mayo Uno

■ April 23 – Day started in Sultan Kudarat with endorsement from ruling local party United Bangsamoro Justice Party (of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front)

– Birthday grand rally on Macapagal Boulevard, Pasay City, with A-list celebrities performing

Key message: “People from the places I visited asked me earlier: Why do you still tour far-flung provinces … This is because this is what you can expect from me when I become president.” (April 22 rally in Mandaue)

—KRIXIA SUBINGSUBING

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