News Roundup 09 April 2022
Apr 09, 2022 • 4 min Read
In provinces where she lost in 2016, Robredo’s rallies draw thousands | PHILSTAR.COM – Despite rain, transportation woes and the challenges posed by being in enemy territory, Vice President Leni Robredo’s Kakampinks were not deterred from showing up in the tens of thousands at her grand rallies in Rizal, Davao del Norte and Pangasinan this week. In Rizal, non-stop rains failed to dampen the mood of some 43,000 people who endured the downpour for hours just to see and hear the independent presidential candidate. Robredo admitted that she floated the idea of rescheduling the rally to organizers, who insisted that Rizaleños were ready for her rain or shine. Rain also failed to keep Kakampinks away from her Davao del Norte rally, where around 35,000 people showed up despite the province being a long-held bailiwick of the Dutertes. Then in Pangasinan, part of the so-called Solid North that has usually commanded votes for Robredo’s archrival former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., some 76,000 Kakampinks still made their way to her rally despite reports that officers of the Land Transportation Office supposedly blocked jeepneys ferrying the vice president’s supporters. Robredo lost in these provinces in the 2016 vice presidential race by wide margins. Marcos took Rizal and Pangasinan with 435,471 and 130,796 votes, respectively, while then Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano won in Davao del Norte with 216,058 votes. Robredo only garnered 285,417 votes in Rizal, 42,684 in Davao del Norte and 265,016 votes in Pangasinan. But for the Robredo campaign, the massive turnout at rallies show that the momentum in the race to Malacañang is with them, as reflected in her nine-point leap in the latest Pulse Asia survey. Adding to that are key endorsements Robredo has clinched, including that of former House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez who holds sway in Davao del Norte and of the influential De Venecia family in Pangasinan. But they still have their work cut out for them as Marcos still enjoys a 32-point lead over Robredo, despite having suffered a four-point dip in the polls. Still, the vice president is undeterred, confident that she can pull off what would be one of the greatest upsets in Philippine electoral history. “It’s not over until it’s over,” she told reporters in Dagupan City.
Leni-Kiko sortie in Pampanga attracts 100,000 people | INQUIRER.NET – The crowd that came to see presidential aspirant Vice President Leni Robredo and running mate Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan at the grounds behind the Robinson’s Starmills in this city on Saturday has grown to around 100,000 as of 6 p.m. The estimated figure, given by Engr. Arnel Sicat, a member of the Robredo-Pangilinan People’s Council in Pampanga, to the Inquirer was made by local police and rescue forces and the organizers of the political rally. Although Robredo has not arrived at the venue yet, the crowds of supporters have been waiting since early afternoon, clad in their pink clothes and carrying placards they made themselves. Event hosts Ogie Diaz and Mama Loi made a swipe at former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s appeal to Pampanga voters to give vice presidential aspirant Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio a landslide win so she could help presidential aspirant former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. become a good president should he win. The two were wearing shirts with prints that said “Nanung (What) landslide?” Former Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat, who is running for a seat in the Senate under the Leni-Kiko slate, urged Kapampangans attending the campaign rally to “not pity” members of the indigenous tribe of Aetas. “Do not pity the Aetas. Support them instead because they take care of the environment,” Baguilat said in Filipino. Baguilat is advocating the rights of indigenous peoples. Other members of the Leni-Kiko senatorial slate who came here were senators Franklin Drilon and Risa Hontiveros and Philippine Red Cross chairman Dick Gordon, Alex Lacson, and former Makati Rep. Monsour Del Rosario.
Local officials accused of vote buying told to explain | PHILSTAR.COM – The Department of the Interior and Local Government has issued notices to a number of politicians to explain their side over allegations of vote buying. Interior Secretary Eduardo Año did not give specifics and estimates on how many local officials were actually summoned to explain, but confirmed that the notices were issued. “For now, we are not investigating a formal case. However, we did issue the notices to explain,” he said in Filipino during a press conference in Camp Crame on Thursday. Año urged complainants to complete the pieces of evidence needed to ensure an airtight case against politicians who are involved in vote buying and other election-related offences. “I hope that those who give us information could also complete the documents. We know that this is a bit difficult to do, but this is needed to sanction those who violate the election campaign (rules),” he said.
