ON TRACK
TACLOBAN CITY — The Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas Senate slate remains confident in its campaign momentum as the May midterm elections approach, with internal assessments and survey data guiding its strategy.
In a press conference prior to the rally proper, Navotas City Rep. Toby Tiangco, Alyansas’s campaign manager, made the statement here in the Marcos stronghold in the Visayas.
About 100,000 people from Leyte joined the grand rally hosted by Speaker and Leyte First District Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.
Tiangco acknowledged that eight to nine Alyansa candidates are consistently placing in the “Magic 12” of senatorial surveys, but emphasized that the coalition is focused on further improving its standing.
“Nakaka-isang buwan na tayo, kaya napakagandang opportunity ito at itutuloy-tuloy lang namin dahil nakita naman nating maganda ang tinatakbo ng kampanya,” Tiangco said.
Tiangco said surveys provide a snapshot of past voter sentiment, helping the coalition adjust its approach with less than 60 days remaining before the elections.
“‘Yan po ang maganda sa legitimate surveys, nakikita po natin kung anong areas ang dapat na i-improve para mas gumanda po at mas marami sa ating mga kandidato ang makapasok doon sa Magic 12,” he said.
He added that Alyansa carefully analyzes surveys as a guiding tool for its campaign while also consulting candidates on the best ways to amplify their platforms.
“Kung ano po ‘yung necessary adjustments, of course it’s not only up to me, I also consult our candidates kung ano sa tingin nila ‘yung mas mabuti para mas malaman ng ating mga kababayan ‘yung plataporma ng bawat kandidato,” Tiangco said.
The Alyansa ticket includes former Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos, Makati City Mayor Abby Binay, Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Senator Pia Cayetano, former Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, Senator Lito Lapid, former Senator Manny Pacquiao, former Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, Senator Francis “Tol” Tolentino, ACT-CIS Representative and former Social Welfare Secretary Erwin Tulfo, and Deputy Speaker Camille Villar.
For his part, Romualdez has assured the team of 12-0 victory in the May 12 elections.
“Ipinapangako ko na mananalo nang malaki ang mga kandidato ng ating Pangulo dito sa Tacloban City at Leyte. We will deliver a big victory for the Alyansa ticket,” Speaker Romualdez said.
Leyte is considered a bailiwick of both the Marcoses and the Romualdezes.
He added that Tacloban, Leyte and Eastern Visayas would choose candidates who would help President Marcos Jr. in his aspiration of making life better for all Filipinos and delivering progress to the provinces, including remote communities.
Speaker Romualdez recalled that in the 2022 presidential elections, Leyte delivered 641,065 votes to then candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his closest rival received only 99,207 votes.
Leyte is the home province of the President’s mother, former First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos, who once served as representative of the province’s first congressional district.
The Tacloban rally is the 9th campaign sortie of the administration Alyansa slate as it seeks to consolidate support in key regions ahead of the May midterm elections.
With 1.4 million registered voters, Leyte has long been a political stronghold of the Marcoses and Romualdezes.
