CALASIAO, PANGASINAN—Administration standard-bearer Manuel Roxas II may receive a significant chunk of support from the so-called “Solid North,” but his running mate Leni Robredo may not because of Ferdinand Marcos Jr., a Liberal Party stalwart said here Monday.
“Particularly for president, I have to say that the Solid North is not solid [for those vying for] president, but a substantial amount will go to Secretary Mar [Roxas],” Ilocos Sur Rep. Eric Singson, a cousin of Ilocos Sur Gov. Chavit Singson, told reporters.
“But for VP, since Marcos is from here, I cannot say how Leni will fare here because [Marcos] is from Ilocandia.”
Singson, together with Pangasinan Gov. Amado Espino, Pangasinan Rep. Rachel Arena, Rep. Gina de Venecia, former House Speaker Jose de Venecia, Abra Gov. Eustaquio Bersamin, La Union Rep. Victor Ortega, along with other local politicians from Pangasinan and Ilocos Sur in La Union, had a show of force on Monday in support of Roxas and Robredo.
They showed their support in recognition of the administration’s efforts to release the local government units’ share from the national government’s excise tax collection from locally produced tobacco products.
Roxas, who traces his roots from the Visayas, faces opposition in the so-called “Solid North” from his rivals Vice President Jejomar Binay, who hails from Isabela, and Senator Grace Poe whose adoptive father, the late actor Fernando Poe Jr., had roots in Pangasinan.
Singson said parts of the Second District of Ilocos Sur, First District of La Union, and the provinces of Abra and Pangasinan will deliver substantial votes for the Roxas-Robredo tandem.
But for the vice presidential race, Singson promised that the LP allies “will work very hard to make Robredo win.”
Robredo’s figures in North/Central Luzon based the latest The Standard Poll days after the first Comelec-sponsored presidential debates, placed her in third spot with 10 percent after Marcos’ 43 percent and Escudero’s 28 percent.
Roxas downplayed a possible roadblock to Robredo in the North in Dagupan City.
“We’ll see if the Solid North is solid for [Marcos], but as we see the rise of ratings for Congresswoman Leni, it sends us a strong signal,” Roxas said referring to the recent rise of Robredo in the latest SWS survey.
Marcos and Escudero emerged statistically tied for the top spot. Escudero received 28 percent, up by two points from the February poll, while Marcos received 26 percent, the same figure he received in the previous poll.