Local squabbles affect PPC campaign sortie in Southern Mindanao

DAVAO CITY — Squabbles among local politicians affected the campaign sortie here yesterday of the senatorial slate of the administration’s People Power Coalition (PPC).

A number of supposed key PPC leaders here boycotted yesterday’s campaign rallies in Nabunturan, Compostela Valley and Tagum City, Davao del Norte.

Davao del Norte Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario refused to attend the rally after PPC heads designated former Agriculture Secretary Roberto Sebastian as the coalition’s provincial chairman.

Sebastian, who belongs to the Reforma party of Executive Secretary Renato de Villa, was chosen as the PPC’s gubernatorial candidate over Del Rosario, who has always been a Lakas-NUCD member.

Compostela Valley first district Rep. Roger Sarmiento, who is running for governor, also ignored the PPC rally in Nabun-turan as he resented the PPC’s choice of incumbent Gov. Jose Caballero who was a supporter of disgraced former President Joseph Estrada.

Davao del Norte first district Rep. Antonio Floirendo Jr., a staunch Lakas-NUCD member, reportedly opted to stay away in Manila yesterday while the entire PPC senatorial slate held a rally in Tagum City.

Del Rosario and Sarmiento reportedly held a meeting at the governor’s residence in Tagum while the rally was going on.

The PPC candidates arrived here early yesterday morning and proceeded to the Rizal Park where they graced the parade for the 64th Araw ng Dabaw celebration, before flying off to Mati, Davao Oriental and Nabunturan. They later all converged in Tagum City for their last stop.

The PPC candidates are slated to hold another rally this morning in Digos, Davao del Sur and will cap their Southern Mindanao sortie with a rally late this afternoon at the Almendras Gym in this city.