CATARMAN, SAMAR – Heavy downpour did not stop thousands of Samareños from attending the Northern Samar People’s Grand Rally entitled “Rayhak” held at the University of Eastern Philippines Monday night.
Former 1st District Representative Paul Daza, a long-time Liberal Party ally, welcomed vice-presidential candidate Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan to his hometown.
“Nagbigay po ng mga pondo sa Northern Samar, nagpapondo ng mga eskwelahan, nagpapondo ng mga patubig, nagbigay po ng medical assiatance dito sa atin. Nagbigay po ng pondo sa DOLE, sa DSWD, isa pong kaibigan natin. Siya po ang magiging pangalawang lider natin sa Malacañang,” Daza told a crowd of an estimated 73,000 Samareños.
Pangilinan thanked Daza and Samareños who support the Team Robredo-Pangilinan (TROPA), including the Tropang Angat senatorial candidates.
“Kagaya ng nabanggit kanina ni Congressman Paul, marami na po tayong naging tulong at mga proyektong nailaan dito sa Northern Samar at syempre napakahalaga na kapag tayo ay pipili ng ating mga iboboto sa darating na halalan, piliin natin yung mayroong track record, ‘yung mayroon nang masasabing nagawa, merong magandang programang de gobyerno at syempre dapat malinis ang track record,” said Pangilinan.
“Hindi dapat tayo magpalinlang, hindi dapat tayo magpaloko, kailangan ang ating pasya base sa katotohan,” he added. The crowd erupted in applause and screamed “Leni-Kiko” in unison.
Pangilinan reiterated that among the vice-presidential candidates, he is the only one who puts farmers and fisherfolk front and center of government agenda.
Agriculture and fisheries are the main sources of income and livelihood in Northern Samar. Coconut, palay, sweet potato, and banana are the main crops of the region.
Samareños are also opposed to the presidential candidate Leni Robredo being paired with other vice-presidential contenders.
“Para sa akin hindi po ako papayag na hindi si Kiko ang vice president ni Leni kasi po sila talaga ang dapat na tandem kasi nasa kanila talaga ang magagandang programa sa gobyerno. Binibigyan pansin talaga nila ang nasa laylayan ng lipunan. Sa tingin ko may pag-asa po kami sa kanila,” said Christina, a resident of Paranas, Samar.
Pangilinan has consistently won in Northern Samar; he won in the 2001, 2007 and 2016 Senatorial elections. In 2016, he placed third in the province with 89,451 votes.