Administration Senate bets to push ahead with Mindanao campaigns 

TRECE MARTIRES, Cavite —Senatorial candidates of the administration’s Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas said they will push through with their campaign activities in Mindanao despite the recent arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte. 

In an ambush interview, former Senator Panfilo Lacson said he will still accept invitations from local government units in Mindanao— the bailiwick of the Dutertes— even if he is currently aligned with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. 

“Kung may invitation, bakit hindi? Pupuntahan pa rin…especially [from] local government units,” Lacson said when asked if they will still campaign in Mindanao despite the recent developments on Duterte. 

“Siguro ‘yung mga tao naman, mas discerning or can be discerning enough para kilatisin ‘yung mga kandidato. Hindi lamang ‘yung magagaling mam-bash o magaling sa fake news ang kanilang iboboto kundi tingnan ‘yung mga record mismo ng mga kandidato,” Lacson pointed out during the press conference before the campaign sortie. 

This was echoed by former Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, noting that they will still seek support from Mindanao as they are not involved in the issue of Duterte’s arrest.

“Wala naman kaming kinalaman dun eh. Edi magkakampanya kami…ipapaalam namin yung aming hangarin, yung track record namin, ano yung gusto naming gawin para sa bansa,” Sotto said. 

Lacson and Sotto both said that the Alyansa has yet to release schedules on their sorties in Mindanao. 

For senatorial candidate and ACT-CIS Partylist Rep. Erwin Tulfo, they will hold campaign activities regardless of the area so they can inform the people of their proposed programs. 

“Definitely, it will affect siyempre ‘yung galit siguro because I am related to the administration pero I just have to campaign there na ang plataporma natin ay… pagtulong, na hindi masama ang tumulong… it doesn’t matter what color you are—red, green, blue, white— tulong is tulong po. It doesn’t matter. Wala ho akong pakialam,” Tulfo said. 

Meanwhile, senatorial bet and outgoing Makati City Mayor Abby Binay reiterated her admission that the arrest of Duterte would affect the political campaigns. 

She echoed the position of Tulfo that their campaigns are focused on the platforms, not the political affiliations. 

“At the end of the day, dapat ang tingnan is ‘yung plataporma ng tao. It’s not about your alliance but what can you bring to the table,” Binay said in a separate ambush interview. —LDF, GMA Integrated News

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