Alyansa bets get more endorsements as May polls near
Senatorial candidates from the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas get more endorsements from past and present local officials as the administration slate caps its campaign for April. Photo from Alyansa promo material on its Facebook page.
MANILA, Philippines — Candidates of the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas get more endorsements from past and present local officials as the administration slate caps its campaign for April.
On Monday, Makati Mayor Abby Binay said that La Union’s officials, led by Gov. Raphaelle Veronica Ortega-David, former Gov. Francisco Emmanuel Ortega III, endorsed her for senator during a meeting with mayors and local candidates of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC).
NPC is Binay’s party.
According to Gov. Ortega, Binay is a visionary leader who will be a breath of fresh air in the Senate.
“Kapag nakakakita ako ng ganitong pulitiko at ganitong klaseng public servant, nagkakaroon ako ng pag-asa. Ginaganahan ako. We deserve the government that we have, kasi tayo ang bumoboto. Kaya piliin nating mabuti ang ating mga ihahalal. Sila ang ating magiging katuwang para sa magandang kinabukasan,” Ortega said.
(When we see politicians and public servants of this kind, I get hope. I am encouraged. We deserve the government that we have because we vote for it. That’s why let us choose who we will elect. They will be our partners for a better future.)
Binay also got endorsements from Pangasinan officials, namely Gov. Ramon Guico, Gov. Mark Lambino, and Abono party-list Rep. Robert Raymund Estrella
“Tulungan natin si Senator Abby Binay dahil siya’y may puso para sa LGU (Let us help Sen. Abby Binay because she has the heart for local government units),” Guico said.
“I am deeply grateful for the wholehearted support given by the incumbent officials and local candidates of La Union and Pangasinan. Their vote of confidence in my ability to deliver on my campaign promises further fuels my resolve to be their voice in the Senate,” Binay said.
Sen. Lito Lapid who is seeking reelection, meanwhile, got the approval of Isabela’s Dy clan, led by Vice Gov. Bojie Dy and Isabela 5th District Rep. Mike Dy. According to Lapid’s office, Cagayan Gov. Manuel Mamba also assured his support for Lapid.
Former Sen. Panfilo Lacson was in Muntinlupa City on Monday, with Mayor Ruffy Biazon — son of the late former Sen. Rodolfo Biazon — giving him a warm welcome.
“As the elections draw near, we hear of the word integrity. And when it comes to integrity, I look up to Sen. Lacson both as a member and chief of the Philippine National Police, and as Senator,” Mayor Biazon said in Filipino.
“If we are to choose our leaders especially in the Senate, let us consider their track record and character, and their integrity in pursuing their advocacies,” he added.
Boxing icon and former Sen. Manny Pacquiao, on the other hand, received backing from Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Lacson and provincial leaders, as they share a common vision of “countryside progress, free housing, sustainable livelihood, and youth sports development.”
House Deputy Speaker Camille Villar, meanwhile, visited Zambales on Monday and Lanao del Norte on Tuesday, where she got the support of incumbent officials there.
Villar’s office said reelectionist Zambales Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr., Zambales Rep. Jay Khonghun, Mayor Jeff Khonghun, and Vice Mayor Christian Esposo and other local officials welcomed Villar during her sorties in the province.
Lanao del Norte Rep. Khalid Dimaporo and his team also assured their support for Villar.
Aside from their individual sorties, the Alyansa is expected to ramp up its campaign during the remaining days before the elections, visiting Pampanga on Wednesday after local officials invited the 11-person line-up to four different stops.
Alyansa campaign manager and Navotas City Rep. Toby Tiangco on Wednesday said it is important to stop by Pampanga as it is a game-changer in any elections, with over 1.67 million registered voters.
“Pampanga is a game-changer. Its people want leaders who will work, not grandstand , and that’s exactly what Alyansa stands for,” Tiangco said in a statement.
Alyansa is fielding an 11-person slate for the 2025 midterm elections, which includes former Binay, Lapid, Lacson, Pacquiao, Villar, DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos, Sen. Pia Cayetano, Sen. Bong Revilla, former Senate President Tito Sotto, Sen. Francis Tolentino, and House Deputy Majority Leader Erwin Tulfo.
After Pampanga, Alyansa is expected to visit Pangasinan on Friday, April 25 and Bulacan on Saturday, April 26, as the slate seeks to end the month of April on a strong note.
READ: Alyansa to resume campaign in ‘game-changer’ Pampanga — Tiangco
A recent survey from polling firm Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed that nine of the top 12 senatorial candidates were from Alyansa.
READ: SWS: Go, 9 Alyansa Senate bets top poll
According to the SWS survey, Tulfo leads all Alyansa candidates at the 2nd spot, followed by Lapid (3rd); Sotto (4th); Cayetano (5th); Revilla (7th); Binay (9th); Villar (10th); Lacson (11th); and Pacquiao (12th).
However, both Abalos and Tolentino are still outside of the winning circle, ranking 18th and 21st, respectively.
