Blackout hits Gordon's campaign rally

CAGAYAN DE ORO City, Philippines – Bagumbayan presidential candidate Sen. Richard Gordon literally became a voice in the dark when blackout hit his Cagayan de Oro rally Thursday night.

Gordon, however, took advantage of the six-hour blackout in the town of Buenavista to promise to end the power shortage in the country.

Buenavista in Agusan del Norte is one of several areas in the Caraga region that suffers six hours of power outage everyday.

“Do you think Noynoy and Villar will come here?” Gordon told a small crowd that gathered in the darkness. He was referring to Liberal Party standard-bearer Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III and Nacionalista Party bet Manuel Villar.

Gordon’s team had set up a sound system powered by generators.

Gordon, the first presidential candidate to hold a campaign sortie in the municipality, promised to harness power from non-traditional sources, including nuclear power, which he said is being exploited by neighboring Asian countries.  

He also promised residents of the nearby town of Nasipit to solve their power problems as these hinder the town’s business potential. Residents of the coastal town lined the road leading to the town plaza to see Gordon’s convoy pass by.

Meantime, Gordon lashed out at Aquino and Villar for being absent again in a presidential forum held at the Xavier University here last Friday.

“I am disappointed that those leading candidates who have accountabilities are not here. I am not surprised. They refuse to be questioned on things they want to do. These people claim they want to lead people out of misery but they do not want to be questioned,” he said.

Aquino and Villar were invited to participate in the “Paglaum (Hope) Mindanao” forum but both begged off.

Gordon earlier called on the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to sponsor regional debates during the final weeks of the campaign where all the presidential bets are compelled to attend.

Gordon said Aquino and Villar feel that they no longer need to attend pre-election forums as they are already perceived as pack leaders as shown by the results of pre-election surveys.

However, Gordon stressed that pre-election surveys are designed to “condition the minds” of voters.

Votes for Gordon

Gordon has also been assured of victory in Iligan City in the May 10 polls following the defection to his party of an administration mayoralty bet and six city council bets last Friday.

Led by mayoralty bet Yuri Taongan, the candidates said they defected from the Lakas-Kampi-CMD to Gordon’s Bagumbayan after they failed to secure the needed party nomination.

Joining Taongan in defecting to Bagumbayan were city council candidates Fred Echavez, Ronie Espina, Joe Booc, Jun Silva, Boy Ortaleza and Alan Amantiad.

Taongan assured Gordon that all their loyal followers will deliver votes for Gordon on election day.

“We think Senator Gordon is the most qualified presidential candidate,” Taongan said.

Taongan added that they are also convinced that Gordon would deliver on his promises and turn Iligan City into another Subic Bay.

“We share Senator Gordon’s vision for Iligan City, such as the creation of an economic zone in the city similar to what is now in Subic Bay,” he said.

Iligan City has 149,000 registered voters and is a stronghold of the administration party, Taongan said.