Aquino urges Kagay-anons to vote bets with reform agenda

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III appealed to the Sendong survivors on Tuesday to help him in his effort to pursue “Tuwid na Daan” (the straight path) by giving him people who will work with him in transforming the Philippines into a better country.

In his short visit at the Xavier Ecoville relocation site in Barangay Lumbia, Cagayan de Oro, Aquino said his commitment to pursue the reform agenda will only take place if he has the same people who are committed to such reform.

“Bigyan ninyo ako ng makakatulong sa akin sa pagbuhat ng bahay at dalhin ito sa mas makabubuting buhay para sa lahat,” Aquino said, referring to the senatorial candidates of Team PNoy in the May elections.

Aquino was in Cagayan de Oro Tuesday for an inspection of the city’s relocation sites for the survivors of tropical storm Sendong.

He also flew by chopper to Laguindingan town in Misamis Oriental to spearhead the soft opening of the Laguindingan International Airport.

Later at noon time, Aquino led the senatorial campaign at the Pelaez Sports Center and proclaimed Liberal Party’s local candidates headed by mayoralty bet Oscar Moreno, the incumbent governor of Misamis Oriental, and gubernatorial candidate Norris Babiera, the province’s incumbent vice governor.

Babiera earlier met with Team PNoy’s senatorial candidates in Alubijid town along with Mayor Alvin Giovanni Labis and other local officials for a campaign sortie.

At the Pelaez Sports Center, among the senatoriables who joined the campaign rally are Benigno “Bam” Aquino, Risa Hontiveros, Ramon “Jun” Magsaysay, Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel, Jamby Madrigal and Senator Loren Legarda who met with the local leaders.

Team PNoy campaign manager Senator Franklin Drilon was also present while senatoriable Grace Poe-Llamanzares sent her cousin, actress Sheryl Cruz, as representative and Sonny Angara sent in his wife Tootsie.

Mayor Eleanor Dimaporo Lantud of Pantao Ragat in Lanao del Norte also attended the campaign rally.

Lantud and her husband, Vice Mayor Lacson Mangotara Lantud, are facing charges of illegal possession of firearms, illegal possession of explosive and ammunition after government troops seized a cache of high-powered firearms inside their house two weeks ago.

Other senatoriables of Team PNoy are former Las Piñas representative Cynthia Villar, Senators Francis Escudero, Alan Peter Cayetano and Antonio Trillanes IV who failed to join the Cagayan de Oro campaign rally.

In a report posted over GMA website, most of the LP candidates improved its rankings in the latest survey.

Based on the latest Social Weather Station (SWS) and Business World nationwide surveys, nine of the LP candidates made it to the top 12.

Senators Legarda, Escudero and Cayetano got the 1st, 2nd and 3rd rank, respectively, while Villar landed in the 4th spot followed by Llamanzares and Pimentel on the 5th-6th spot, Trillanes on the 8th spot, Aquino in 9th-10th and Angara on the 11-12th spot.

The survey was conducted between February 15 and 17, barely 76 days before the May elections.

Meanwhile, Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Vicente Y. Emano refused to meet with Aquino after the president arrived at the Lumbia Airport past 10 a.m. Tuesday.

Emano admitted he was not invited to join the presidential visit but said he still showed up at the airport to assure Aquino’s safety.

“Basin makasamok unya ako sa unsa man nga ilang pagahisgutan so mas maayo nga dire na lang ko sa gawas. Duna may ilang proclamation rally maybe that’s the reason I was not invited. I don’t have any grudges against the President. I respect him, being the leader of our country,” he said.

The mayor was seen standing outside the airport in the company of taxi drivers.

Emano belong to Padayon Pilipino under the umbrella of the United Nationalists Alliance (UNA) while Aquino is with the administration’s Liberal Party.

But Emano was quick to say that regardless of political party, he would provide security to the President.

The mayor left the airport after Aquino’s chopper took off for Laguindingan town.