Albay guv sees 10-2 win for Team PNoy

THE province of Albay can deliver a realistic 10-2 win for the administration coalition Team PNoy, Governor Joey Salceda said Friday.

Salceda, a former ally of detained Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, admitted that the ongoing crisis in Sabah will have an adverse effect in the public's perception towards administration-backed senatorial candidates.

"Without the Sabah issue, I can give you 12-0. But the Sabah issue ruined my strategy. Sabah was a big headache for me," Salceda told reporters.

Team PNoy started its sortie in Naga City in Bicol Region on Thursday and visited the cities of Iriga, Polangui, Ligao, and Legazpi Friday. On Saturday, they will conclude their sortie in Tabaco City.

"People here (in Albay) are very patriotic. It's (Sabah crisis) an elephant in my room," he added.

Without identifying the two administration candidates who will be dropped by Bicolano voters, Salceda said San Juan Representative JV Ejercito and former Senator Miguel Zubiri will likely acquire the two slots.

Both Ejercito and Zubiri are running under the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) of Vice President Jejomar Binay and former President Joseph "Erap" Estrada.

Salceda said he had already informed President Aquino of his 10-2 forecast in his province.

"He knows already, I told him. The only question he asked is who are the two (other candidates). And I gave him the names," the reelectionist governor said.

Salceda said that Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero, being a Bicolano, will likely be the top candidate in the Bicol Region. (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)