Chiz, Bongbong woo Cebu voters

CEBU, Philippines – Vice presidential frontrunners Senators Francis Escudero and Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. wooed voters in this vote-rich province yesterday.

With 2.7 million registered voters, Cebu is the province with the highest number of votes, according to the Commission on Elections.

Escudero paid a courtesy call on Mayor Tomas Osmeña, a known ally of the Aquino administration.

Escudero had lunch at Osmeña’s house after a radio interview in the morning. Escudero also went around Carcar City before going back to Manila on Saturday evening.

Marcos, on the other hand, arrived in Cebu on Friday. He had a motorcade around the city before Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy endorsed him.

He also went to a furniture factory and Cordova Reef Village, where he also got support from local officials.

It’s Leni

Although there was no outright confirmation that Osmeña may support Escudero, the longtime friends said there is no political reason for it.

“You know, it’s not a declaration or anything but what we have right now is a very fluid situation. And Leni (Robredo) is shooting up,” Osmeña told the media.

“I endorse Leni,” he added.

Robredo is the runningmate of Liberal Party presidential bet Manuel Roxas II. They are candidates of the Aquino administration.

Osmeña noted that at the end of the day, the decision is with the people.

“Let’s not get into this culture of why are you endorsing a candidate. Who cares? You just let the people make their own decisions. Let them go by their own merits. Now, Chiz Escudero is my friend. Why should I avoid him just because he is running in the other side? He’s always been my friend,” he explained.

Osmeña also said that he is not supporting the presidential bid of Vice President Jejomar Binay and Marcos’ candidacy.

“By all means, I don’t like Bongbong to win as vice president. My father has practically sacrificed his life fighting the dictatorship regime of Marcos Sr., so that’s one of the major considerations,” he explained.

Escudero also said there is nothing political about his visit to Osmeña.

He also acknowledged that he has lesser resources compared to Marcos and Robredo, but this would not stop him from campaigning harder.

“Congresswoman Leni is supported by the Aquino administration. They have the whole machinery of the administration and they have money. As for Senator Marcos, it is clear that he has many resources,” he said.

“So my little lead (in the surveys for vice president) is already a big thing on my part. Me and my runningmate Sen. Grace Poe are just holding on to one saying: money has people but people have no money. The good thing is that people are the ones who vote, not money,” he added.

For his part, Marcos said he would not be provoked to engage in mudslinging just to stay ahead in the vice presidential race.

In an interview over Cebu Catholic Television Network in Cebu City, Marcos said he would just continue to present his platform rather than destroy his political rivals.

“Will mud-slinging create one more job? Will insulting somebody else, trying to put them down, help feed a child? None of these things are useful, none of these things achieve anything except more disunity, more polarization,” he said.