CLARK FREEPORT—Liberal Party standard bearer Manuel Roxas II could also lose in Tarlac, Paniqui Mayor Miguel Rivilla said over the weekend.
Rivilla, who is running for vice governor of Tarlac as an independent candidate, told a media forum here that, based on the Commission on Elections’ listing of candidates, out of the 17 municipalities and one city only two mayoral candidates were running under the Liberal Party: Rey Catacutan of Capas and Dennis Barrantes of Santa Ignacia.
Most of the other candidates running for governor, vice governor, mayor and vice mayor down to the councilors were running either as independents or under the banner of the Nationalist People’s Coalition, he said.
“What compounds the problem is that the name of Vice President Jejomar Binay and Senator Bongbong Marcos are very strong in the province,” Rivilla said.
He made his statement even as Roxas rejected the predictions the “protest votes” will translate into votes for the opposition in the May elections following the people’s continuing frustration with the Aquino administration.
“If the present administration is very bad, why are they riding on to all of our products? Can’t they think of something new?” Roxas said in reference to the government’s social programs including its dole to the poor.
“If all the present programs of the administration were that bad, why can’t they say other things, right?” Roxas said.
The trend in Tarlac is also almost the same in the other provinces of Region III.
Former Congressman Willie Villarama of Bulacan, who is running for vice governor of the province, said Binay and Marcos were also strong contenders in Bulacan.
The same trend seemed to be prevailing in Pampanga.
Rivilla said Binay was followed by Davao City Mayor Duterte and Senator Grace Poe, while Roxas and Senator Miriam Santiago were trailing behind.
“There is no Chiz [Escudero] here as far as [the vice presidential race is concerned],” Rivilla said.
He attributed Binay’s strong showing to his sisterhood program of Makati and the Rotary clubs. Paniqui and Tarlac have been municipal sisters for 10 years.
“When there is a disaster, he sends us relief goods and financial assistance, and in time of peace he sends vehicles for the people to use in case of emergency”, Villarama said.
On the other hand, Roxas has not been visible and has not been visiting Tarlac for unknown reasons. Romeo Dizon and John Paolo Bencito
