4 Bicolanos vying for VP

MANILA, Philippines - The estimated 3.6 million Bicolano votes may no longer be solid in the 2016 elections with at least four vice presidential bets from the Bicol Region.

Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Rodel Batocabe raised the prospect of the normally united Bicolanos being divided in the coming polls with the entry of Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo and Sens. Francis Escudero, Gregorio Honasan and Antonio Trillanes IV in the vice presidential race.

“Bicolanos will be voting longer than any other Filipino this coming 2016 elections,” Batocabe said, adding Bicolanos have, for the past decades, aspired to have one of their own leader higher than senator.

“This time, however, we don’t only have one, but at least five candidates. Never in our history has there been a time where we are deluged by a large number of Bicolano candidates for vice president, all of whom are charismatic, articulate and competent,” he said.

He said Bicolanos are facing “both a blessing and a curse.”

“Bicolano voters will not only be divided, but also be overwhelmed. But then, this will also upgrade the level of political maturity and sophistication of our fellow Bicolanos as they will not only be voting based on geographical considerations but more on the qualifications of the candidates such as competence, integrity, programs and platforms of government,” he said.

Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, who also announced his vice presidential candidacy, is not from the region but his wife, Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano is from Tiwi, Albay.

The rest of the Bicolano vice presidential bets come from Sorsogon. 

While Robredo represents Camarines Sur, the home province of her late husband Jesse Robredo, she actually traces her roots to Sorsogon.

However, former Albay lawmaker Edcel Lagman sees the entry of Bicolanos in the race as a good sign that the country might soon elect a Bicolano for president.

“Let it not be said that Bicol is the ‘region of vices’ but positively a Bicolano is not far from the presidency,” Lagman said.