OPPOSING candidates in Cebu Province spent their weekend wooing voters in Camotes Island, starting in San Francisco where the sorties went on without the town’s top officials.
Candidates of the Barug Alang sa Kauswagan ug Demokrasya (Bakud) Party-Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) first held a caravan around the town before stopping at the Barangay San Isidro gym for their rally on Saturday, April 27.
The One Cebu-Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) of Rep. Gwen Garcia (Cebu, 3rd), meanwhile, held their rally at the Barangay Poblacion gym on Saturday night.
Among those who joined Garcia, who is running for governor, were her son-in-law, fifth district congressional bet Duke Frasco; vice gubernatorial candidate Daphne Salimbangon; and Red Duterte and Michael Villamor, the party’s candidates for Provincial Board member representing the fifth district.
During their rally, the Bakud-NPC candidates’ speeches focused on the arrest of San Francisco Mayor Aly Arquillano and Vice Mayor Al Arquillano, who they said, are victims of their opponents’ political agenda.
Among the candidates present were Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale, who is running against Garcia; Gov. Hilario Davide III, who is running for vice governor; reelectionist Rep. Ramon “Red” Durano VI (Cebu, 5th); and PB Members Miguel Antonio Magpale and Blinky Sybico, who are seeking reelection.
Even if they remain detained at the Danao City Jail, the party reserved seats for the Arquillano brothers on the stage during the rally.
In her speech, Magpale said they were overwhelmed and appreciative of the huge crowd that greeted them even if the Arquillanos were not around.
“We will seek justice but we will not place justice in our own hands. We will retaliate by making sure our opponents lose in the May 13 election,” she said.
Magpale then talked about the cases Garcia is facing over the Balili property and the construction of the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC).
“Ako sa 32 ka tuig nako, wa ko magpakauwaw. Wa ko mag-usik-usik sa inyong mga buhis (In my 32 years as a public official, I was never an embarrassment. I never wasted your taxes,” she continued.
She also presented the programs and projects of the Capitol under the Davide administration.
When sought for comment, Garcia said the Arquillanos would not have been jailed if there were no firearms and explosives found in their house during a raid last April 4.
“Balili? CICC? If their cases against me have any basis, I would’ve been in jail with their allies. But who’s in jail now and who remains free? Remember that the cases against me were filed during the time of President Aquino, when they were in power. But because it has no basis, I’m still here, while the cases against their allies are serious and have sent the Arquillanos to jail,” Garcia said in text messages to Superbalita Cebu.
In his speech, Davide asked the people of San Francisco to vote for their candidates who promised good governance.
“I’ve never won here in San Francisco. Who knows, I might win this time. That’s why I still ask for your help. I won’t give up, I won’t surrender,” the governor added. (FROM SCG OF SUPERBALITA CEBU / LRC)