NO LOCAL ALLIES? OTSO DIRETSO BETS RELY ON VOLUNTEERS

ONLY two weeks are left before the May 13 elections, but local allies of Liberal Party (LP) have yet to show up in Otso Diretso bets’ campaign sorties.

For the third time since the campaign period for national candidates started last February, the opposition’s senatorial slate visited Cebu again on Sunday, April 28, to woo the province’s three million voters.

The event at the Plaza Independencia, which was attended by some 2,000 supporters, was spearheaded by Ahon Laylayan Koalisyon and was graced by Vice President Leni Robredo.

Despite Robredo’s presence and Otso Diretso’s slate in complete attendance, local political allies of LP were still a no-show.

“We expected that since day one... given the political climate right now and we try to understand that,” she told reporters.

A list of candidates on the Com mission on Elections’ website showed that LP allies in Cebu include Gov. Hilario Davide III who is running for vice governor and reelectionist Rep. Raul del Mar (Cebu, north).

Davide was in Camotes Island on Sunday with his running mate for their group’s campaign sortie.

According to Robredo, most of their group’s campaign events were initiated by volunteers.

Some of their local allies are helping “in some ways,” she said.

“This, though, is a political reality that we must accept. It shouldn’t be a source of grudge because there are several factors why the political climate is like this,” Robredo said in Tagalog.

During the event, Otso Diretso candidate Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano said the vote-rich province of Cebu will help their slate win.

“We still have two weeks, a lot of things can happen. As we made our campaign rounds, the people quietly professed that they’re for Otso Diretso because they are afraid,” he added.

Otso Diretso is composed of reelectionist Sen. Bam Aquino, former senator Mar Roxas, lawyers Romy Macalintal, Florin Hilbay, Erin Tañada and Chel Diokno, and former Bangsamoro Transition Commission member Samira Gutoc.

Ahon Laylayan Sugbu head former interior and local government undersecretary Francisco “Bimbo” Fernandez said the Cebuanos will help Otso Diretso.