Magpale, Davide start campaign caravan in Danao City

Vice Governor Agnes Magpale, who is running as governor under the local party Barug Alang sa Kauswagan ug Demokrasya (Bakud), answers questions from the media after the 7 a.m. Holy Mass attended by allies and supporters. CDND Photo / ROSALIE ABATAYO

DANAO CITY, CEBU — Vice Governor Agnes Magpale and Governor Hilario Davide III kicked off their campaign caravan in Danao City, Magpale’s home turf, by announcing a platform of service anchored on transparency and good governance.

Magpale, who is running for governor, told reporters that she is hoping for discerning voters to support her and Davide.

“I am hoping that the very literate, where media information is always available, will also go for me… because the issue against them is quite difficult to defend,” said Magpale.

Magpale was referring to the charges filed against One Cebu Party gubernatorial candidate, Cebu Third District Representative Gwendolyn Garcia, that stemmed from the controversial Balili property which turned out to be submerged under water.

Garcia, former governor of Cebu Province, is seeking to return to the Capitol by winning the position she held from 2004 to 2013.

Magpale said her tandem with Davide is strong because they placed emphasis on anti-graft and corruption practices, transparency and good governance.

“Mao man na among (That’s our) strength,” said Magpale.

Supporters of the Barug Alang sa Kauswagan ug Demokrasya (Bakud), the party that carries the tandem of Magpale and Davide, wore white shirts and filled the Santo Tomas de Villanueva Parish church in Danao City, where the two politicians and their allies heard the 7 a.m. Holy Mass before starting the campaign caravan.

Magpale and Davide were joined by reelectionist Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV of the Liberal Party (LP). Davide is also a member of LP.

Supporters of the Magpale-Davide tandem wore white T-shirts as they heard Mass at the Santo Tomas de Villanueva Parish in Danao City. CDND Photo / ROSALIE ABATAYO

In an interview with reporters after the Mass, Magpale said they chose to start their campaign in Danao City because it is her hometown. She said Danao City is also the first local government unit (LGU) that she served.

Magpale, 77, first entered politics as vice mayor of Danao City when she was 27 years old.

She took a break from politics for 13 years to raise her children and returned as Provincial Board Member for Cebu’s fifth district in 1992.

Magpale said they are communicating to the voters their administration’s achievements and accomplishments as proofs that they did not steal money from the government’s coffers.

“We have to tell people what we have done. You all what we have done,” she told reporters.

She said they turned over 74 school buildings and 347 mini-dump trucks, multicabs and other vehicles to different towns under Cebu Province.

“We have built four provincial hospitals. We have upgraded them. Remember how it was during the time of Gwen Garcia? When the nurses and doctors have to go through an agency? You remember that?” she said.

(From left) Miguel Magpale, Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV and Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III joined the campaign caravan that kicked off in Danao City. Miguel, the son of Vice Governor Agnes Magpale, is running as Provincial Board Member while Aquino is seeking reelection as Senator. Davide is running as Vice Governor. CDND Photo / ROSALIE ABATAYO

Based on the itinerary, the Magpale-Davide tandem or “MagDa” will visit 11 towns in the fourth and fifth districts or the northern part of Cebu province.

This includes Danao City, Compostela, Carmen, Catmon, Sogod, Borbon, Tabogon, Bogo City, Medellin, Daanbantayan and San Remigio.

Minnie Osmeña, sister of former senator Sergio “Serge” Osmeña III, also joined the rally on behalf of her brother.

Serge is running as Senator as an independent candidate. / celr