Magdalo spokesman shuns "pulong-pulongs"

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City north district congressional aspirant Francisco Ashley Acedillo yesterday said that while nobody of the barangay captains has pledged support to his candidacy, it did not discourage him in waging a good fight against his tough political opponents through a “sincere house-to-house” method of campaigning during the remaining 43 days of the campaign period.

The 33-year-old Acedillo, now a resident of Barangay Apas, graduated from the Philippine Military Academy in 1999 and was among those who staged a mutiny and took over the Oakwood Hotel in Makati in 2003.

During the second day of the campaign period yesterday, Acedillo and the members of the Magdalo group in Cebu City held a caravan in different barangays of the city’s north district and answered questions from the media during a press conference.

Acedillo said that many of the barangay captains have told him that while they want to support his candidacy, they cannot do it because they are also committed to the candidates of the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) or of the candidates of Kugi Uswag Sugbo (Kusug).

“Init kaayo ang pagdawat sa mga botante nako sa matag himo nako og house-to-house campaign,” Acedillo said, adding he believes that handshaking is still the better way of campaigning over the usual “pulong-pulong” as what his political opponents, Lahug barangay captain Mary Ann de los Santos and Rachel Marguerite “Cutie” del Mar, are doing every night.

According to Acedillo, he lacks the financial capacity for his campaign advertisement in the broadcast and print media that is why he has decided to just carry out a house-to-house campaign. He also distributes copies of his campaign materials through Digital Versatile/Video Discs (DVDs) because of the cheaper cost to produce such.

But unlike some other candidates who attack their opponents during rallies and “pulong-pulongs,” Acedillo said he did not even, for once, mention the names of del Mar and de los Santos when he attends gatherings.

One of Acedillo’s advocacies is providing free education not only in public elementary and high schools but also in tech-voc (technical/vocational) schools. The other is increasing livelihood opportunities among the highly marginalized sector of society.

When The FREEMAN asked Acedillo of his chances of winning against his opponents who are both allied with political groups, the national spokesperson of Magdalo replied that in the scale of one to 10, he considered himself now in the seventh rank and he is hoping to gain more support from the voters in the future weeks.

Acedillo further said he wants a “face-off” among other aspirants for congressman in the north district through a forum similar to that graced by presidential candidates so the voters can be informed well pertaining to their choices. — Rene U. Borromeo/MEEV  (FREEMAN NEWS)