The tandem of senators Grace Poe and Senator Francis Chiz Escudero visited vote-rich Cebu province and met with the Duranos and their political leaders in the 5th district.
They also visited a school in Cebu City.
They flew by chopper to Danao City where they met over lunch with leaders of the local Bakud party headed by Danao City Mayor Ramon Nito” Durano III.
The two presented their platform of government but it was not clear whether any commitment was given by Bakud to support a Poe-Escudero ticket.
Bakud is an ally of the Liberal Party and has pledged its support for the reelection of Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III and Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale, whose brother Rene Almendras is one of
President Aquino’s closest advisers as Cabinet Secretary.
In their first visit to Cebu after declaring their candidacies for president and vice president, Poe and Escudero said they were optimistic that they can get the votes of the Cebuanos even though
most incumbent officials here are members of the Liberal Party.
Poe praised Aquino as a president who was able to restore public trust in the government.
“We don’t just look at party affiliations. Yes, President Noynoy won back the people’s trust in our government. But Presidents Noynoy is President Noynoy and not the whole party,” Poe said in Filipino in a press conference.
In the last 2013 senatorial election, Poe noted that she was number 19 in the survey but was surprised to land number 3 in the province and number 2 in Cebu City during the election.
With that, Poe said she believes that Cebuano voters will look at her plans not just for Cebu but for the whole country.
Escudero said he believes that the people are independent-minded and will not be swayed by party affiliations. The tandem visited radio and TV stations for interviews before holding a press conference in an uptown hotel and then dropped by the Asian College of Technology.