Poe, Escudero woo Duranos’ Bakud

CEBU, Philippines - Will the influential Durano-led Bakud Party in the fifth district of Cebu support Senators Grace Poe and Francis “Chiz” Escudero in the 2016 elections?

 The regional party officials led by its chairman, Ramonito Durano III, welcomed the presidential and vice presidential aspirants, respectively, into the district yesterday for a consultation.

Poe and Escudero joined the Duranos and other Bakud Party officials for lunch at the residence of Ramonito III in Danao City. The party officials were candid to tell Poe and Escudero that they have yet to decide as a party who among the presidential and vice presidential wannabes to support in the coming elections.

Bakud Party vice president and fifth district Representative Ace Durano said the party will make the decision before October 16, the last day of the filing of the certificates of candidacy.

Ace, a partymate of Escudero in the Nationalist People’s Coalition, however, admitted that he is attracted to Poe-Escudero tandem.

“I am very attracted sa inclusiveness and open-mindedness sa politics ni Grace ug Chiz,” said Ace.

Bakud Party president and Danao City Vice Mayor Red Durano said that any national candidates who wish to have a consultation with them are welcome. The fifth district has a voting population of 350,000.

Bakud Party occupied 89 percent of the elective positions in the district having 1,587 elected members out of the 1,789 elective posts.

Poe was thankful for the warm welcome that she and Escudero received from the fifth district officials.

“Nakakataba ng puso ang pagtanggap nila sa amin at sa pinakita nilang magagandang lugar,” Poe said.

Meanwhile, Poe and Escudero dismissed the notion that Cebu is a “Liberal Party country”.

“Historically ang mga Cebuanos pumipili sila base sa kwalipikasyon at base sa pananaw kung karapat dapat ba o hindi. Last election malayo ako sa survey dito sa Cebu, but I won here and it is an honor for me to be deemed worthy,” Poe said.

 She likewise acknowledged the role of President Benigno Aquino III in bringing back the people’s trust to the government.

 “But President Noynoy is President Noynoy. Hindi naman siya ang buong partido,” Poe said.

Escudero recalled that in the 2010 elections, majority of the officials in Cebu were not allies of President Aquino.

“But in the end ang mga tao din ang boboto at hindi partido. Ang importante maparating sa mga tao ang aming mga programa at plataporma,” Escudero said. (FREEMAN)