Pro-Marcos group joins Poe motorcade in Cavite

Partido ng Bayan ang Bida (PBB) joins presidential aspirant Senator Grace Poe’s motorcade in the vote-rich Cavite province. MAILA AGER/INQUIRER.net

CAVITE, Philippines—Presidential aspirant Senator Grace Poe held a motorcade in this vote-rich province for more than six hours on Tuesday without her running mate, Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero.

Instead, Poe was joined by her senatorial candidates Neri Colmenares, Lorna Kapunan and Edu Manzano.

Vice Governor Jolo Revilla also joined Poe and her team during the motorcade, which started in Dasmariñas past 7:00 a.m and ended shortly before 2:00 p.m.

People lined up the streets, chanting Poe’s name, as they passed by.

A vehicle carrying the name of the Partido ng Bayan ang Bida (PBB), a party-list group identified with Poe’s father, the late action king Fernando Poe Jr., joined the motorcade.

PBB is supporting Poe’s presidential candidacy but not Escudero.

The group earlier endorsed the vice presidential candidacy of Escudero’s rival, Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

READ: Vice presidential bid ni Sen. Bongbong Marcos, inindorso ng isang FPJ group

Poe was a bit surprise when told during an interview that PBB was part of the motorcade.

“Meron? Alam mo sa haba ng motorcade natin, hindi pa kami natatapos sa pag ikot, nakarating na sa finish line yung iba,” she said.

(There was a PBB vehicle? You know, with our lengthy motorcade, while we were not yet finished going around, others have reached the finish line.)

“Well, pakiusap ko naman, malaya naman kayo kung sino ang gusto nyong suportahan pero syempre ginagalang ko rin naman ang kasamang si Senator Chiz Escudero.”

(Well, you are free to choose whomever you want to support but I respect my running mate Senator Chiz Escudero.)

Poe also noted that aside from PBB, there are also other groups who are supporting her candidacy, like the Magdalo Group of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, who is also running for vice president.

She took the opportunity to thank Trillanes, who is under attack after exposing the alleged hidden wealth of presidential frontrunner, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

READ: Antonio Trillanes IV: A soldier’s biggest battle yet

“Mataas rin at lalong lalo na ngayon ang pagtingin ko kay Senator Trillanes sapagkat hindi madali ang kanyang pinagdadaanan at alam naman natin na maraming komokontra sa kanya, madami ang gumagawa rin ng mga kung ano-anong storya sa kanya pero malakas ang loob nya at yan ay bihira, bihira yan sa ating samahan ngayon kaya maraming salamat,” she said.

(I have high regard for Senator Trillanes because he is undergoing tough times and we know that many are opposing him. A lot of stories about him are circulating but he remains unfazed. That trait is rare nowadays so I would like to thank him.)

Poe is also scheduled to hold another motorcade in Cainta and Antipolo later in the day. RAM/rga