BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and Bishop Gerardo Alminaza yesterday led the supporters of presidential bet Leni Robredo and her running mate, vice presidential candidate Senator Francis Pangilinan, who welcomed them at the Bishop’s Home covered court in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental.
During the campaign sortie in San Carlos City, Lacson officially endorsed Robredo as his presidential bet.
Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer and the 28 mayors of Negros Occidental earlier endorsed the tandem of presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his running mate, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.
“The victory of our candidate is in your hands. This election on May 9, we do not need to listen to our elders. Let us make the decision for ourselves,” Lacson said in his introduction of Robredo.
He described Robredo as an intelligent, sincere, helpful and trustworthy candidate.
When a government is sincere, everyone’s lives are uplifted, Lacson, who was accompanied by his son Leandro, said.
Alminaza also joined the stage with Robredo, Pangilinan and Lacson.
Robredo thanked Bishop Alminaza for letting them use the venue, which she described as a “huge help” for them. She also congratulated the organizers, former San Carlos City Councilor Dickson Yu, and Youth For Leni organizations in the 1st district of Negros Occidental.
All the mayors in the 1st district of Negros Occidental, including Don Salvador Benedicto, Toboso, Calatrava, cities of San Carlos and Escalante, as well as Rep. Gerardo Valmayor are supporters of Marcos-Duterte tandem.
San Carlos City is the hometown of Gov. Lacson, where he had served as mayor for nine years before becoming vice governor and then governor of Negros Occidental.
About 3,000 supporters of the Leni-Kiko tandem participated in the rally of the two candidates aspiring for highest positions in the country in San Carlos City. They were also joined by Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. and former Negros Occidental Gov. Rafael Coscolluela.
Sagay City then mustered a show of force for Robredo-Pangilinan tandem, where an estimated 20,000 of their supporters joined the rally at the back of the City Hall.
Second District Rep. Leo Rafael Cueva, Sagay City Mayor Alfredo Marañon III, Cadiz City Mayor Salvador Escalante and former COMELEC Commissioner Rowena Guanzon led Sagaynons and Negrenses from neighboring towns in welcoming Robredo.
In Kabankalan City, Robredo and Pangilinan were welcomed by Mayor Pedro Zayco and his brother-predecessor Isidro Zayco and Nikki Benitez, wife of former Rep. Alfredo Benitez.*
