Roxas endorses BAKUD bets

CEBU, Philippines - Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) secretary and on-leave president of the Liberal Party, Mar Roxas, endorsed last Tuesday the candidates of the Barug Alang sa Kauswagan ug Demokrasya (BAKUD) party in Danao city.

With an estimated crowd of 10,000, Roxas sought public support for BAKUD, which is an LP ally.

BAKUD's Miting de Avance last Tuesday night was led by 5th district Representative Ramon "Red" Durano VI, who is running for vice-mayor, and his father, Vice Mayor Ramon "Nito" Durano III who is seeking the mayoral post.

Roxas said the LP party has high respects for the family of Nito to whom they are grateful for the partnership formed last year.

In the last election, Bakud supported One Cebu's Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, delivering the most number of votes for her in the whole province. The Bakud party of the Duranos is known to deliver substantial votes for candidates they support.

The Duranos earlier stated that even before the change of support was announced, they have already informed Garcia that they will be supporting LP.

Further, Roxas yesterday endorsed gubernatorial bets Davide and Magpale, and Provincial Board candidates Jude Thaddeus Durano-Sybico and Miguel Magpale.

Reelectionist Senator Loren Legarda was also present.

Legarda, consistently number one in surveys, said it's still hard to speculate whether or not LP could achieve the 12-0 win they aim.

Local LP candidates like Davide said that they will do their best to deliver a 12-0 win for their senatorial slate regardless of criticisms that a 12-0 win is impossible for the party to pull off.

Last night, Nito said they will push for a 12-0 win.

Legarda said that for some areas like Danao, it would likely be possible regardless of surveys, but it would still depend on how the people will decide on May 13.

Further, Legarda assured yesterday that she will be strengthening programs for healthcare and poverty alleviation. She said in an interview with the media that the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4 Ps) is a program of the national government and should not in any way be used by candidates.

Recently, reports surfaced on candidates in Cebu who threatened to remove constituents from the 4 Ps program.

Yesterday, LP also had their Miting de Avance in Argao, the hometown of Davide.

Rain showers were experienced earlier in the afternoon but stopped in time for the start event at the Cebu Technological University grounds. – (FREEMAN)