CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—The ruling Liberal Party has sought the help of the incumbents in the vote-rich provinces of Pampanga and Isabela to ensure the victory of its standard bearers Manuel Roxas II and Leni Robredo.
In Pampanga, Roxas, Robredo and President Benigno Aquino III on Thursday wooed the Pampangueños, including Pampanga Gov. Lilia Pineda, a long-time ally of former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
“Your unwavering walk through the straight path is the reason why corruption has ended in our country,” Pineda told Aquino.
“Mr. President, expect all Kapampangan to support your anointed candidates.”
Pineda is running unopposed for Pampanga’s gubernatorial post in the May 2016 elections.
Conspicuously absent during the LP rally in the Pampanga provincial capitol was another Pineda rival, former Pampanga Gov. Mark Lapid, who is now running for senator under the Liberal Party’s ticket.
Another incumbent, Isabela Gov. Faustino Dy III, a ranking member of the Nationalist People’s Coalition, has expressed his support for Roxas and Robredo.
In a radio interview, Dy said he will campaign for the LP candidates in his province because the reforms started by Aquino should continue.
He said the Aquino administration had done so much for the province.
“Even if I’m an NPC member, I am supporting the LP candidates,” said Dy, chairman of the NPC in Isabela.
Dy even joined Robredo in a radio interview before they attended an event celebrating International Women’s Month in Cauayan, Isabela, on Thursday.
Dy is running against another former staunch ally of the LP in the province, former broadcaster and Isabela Gov. Maria Gracia Padaca, a Ramon Magsaysay awardee for public service in 2008.
Padaca will be running as an independent candidate for the 2016 gubernatorial race in Isabela after the LP decided to ditch her.