SENATORIAL candidates under the “Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas” slate will hold a campaign rally today in Tacloban City in Leyte, the vote-rich bailiwick of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his first cousin, Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Leyte, which has long been a political stronghold of the Marcos family, will be the ninth campaign stop of the Alyansa ticket which is seeking to consolidate support in key regions ahead of the May 12 midterm elections.
“Leyte has always stood with President Marcos and his vision for a stronger Philippines. We believe the Leyteños will continue to support leaders who will work with the administration in delivering real progress,” Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco, who is the Alyansa’s spokesperson, said, noting the province has around 1.4 million registered voters.
The administration’s senatorial slate is composed of reelectionist Senators Bong Revilla, Lito Lapid, Imee Marcos, Pia Cayetano and Francis Tolentino; former senators Vicente Sotto III, Panfilo Lacson and Manny Pacquiao; Rep. Erwin Tulfo (PL, ACT-CIS), and Las Piñas City Rep. Camille Villar, Makati City Mayor Abigail Binay, and former Interior Secretary and Mandaluyong City Mayor Benhur Abalos.
While the Ilocos Region is considered the bailiwick of the Marcoses in the north, Leyte is their turf in the Visayas since it is the home province of former first lady Imelda Marcos, who once served as representative of the province’s first congressional district.
In the 2022 national elections, the president received 641,065 votes in the province, enjoying a wide lead over his closest rival, who only got 99,207 votes.
“Tacloban is our ninth stop, and each leg of our campaign has only reinforced what we already know — Filipinos want stability, continuity and leadership that prioritizes national progress,” Tiangco said. “Leyte will play a crucial role in ensuring that we have a Senate that will work alongside the administration.”
Tiangco said the Alyansa is looking to maintain its momentum after its campaign started to gather steam during its eight previous sorties.
The Navotas City lawmaker earlier said there will be no let-up in campaigning for the administration’s senatorial candidates even if eight of them have been dominating electoral surveys.
A survey conducted by the SWS from February 15 to 19, or just before the national campaign period officially started, showed Tulfo leading the senatorial race with 45 percent voter preference, while Lapid was at third place with 36 percent.
