SAN JOSE, Occidental Mindoro— Lakas-Kampi-CMD candidates vying for national posts led by presidential bet Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. and his running mate, Edu Manzano, intensified their campaign activities in this city and other remote towns of Mindoro island that were rarely visited by political candidates in past elections because of threat of insurgency.
Unfazed by the reported presence of New People’s Army (NPA) rebels, Teodoro and Manzano – on two separate teams – campaigned in this city and Mamburao town to drum up their platform of government as they vowed to prioritize giving more support to local government units to allow them to pursue development programs to benefit the people of Mindoro.
Speaking before a crowd of about 9,000 people at the Occidental Mindoro State College here, Teodoro said the national leadership should be capable of understanding the needs of every community so it can effectively address the particular needs of these localities.
Last Saturday, the 45-year-old Teodoro landed at the San Jose City airport at 3 p.m. while Manzano touched down at Mamburao Airport 10:30 a.m., tagging with them their senatorial candidates that included former justice secretary Silvestre “Bebot” Bello III, incumbent Binalonan (Pangasinan) Ramon “GetsKo” Guico, lawyer Raul Lambino and veteran broadcaster Rey Langit. “Dapat ang leader natin should be capable of understanding the needs of communities to effectively address their respective problems and then give the best solutions,” Teodoro said.
Among the local leaders present at the state college were Deputy Speaker Amelita Villarosa; her husband, former Gov. Jose Villarosa; Mayor Voltaire Villarosa of Mamburao; Vice Mayor Nestor Perez of Rizal; and mayoral bets Renato Paulino in Calintaan and Eleonor Fajardo in Magsaysay.
Former Gov. Villarosa said some 9,000 people listened to Teodoro as he tackle the issue of greater support for LGUs at the college, where the Lakas presidential bet, his running mate Manzano, and three of the ruling party’s six senatorial bets proceeded to in the afternoon following a motorcade from the airport. These senatorial bets are Bello, Lambino and Langit.
The other Lakas-Kampi-CMD senatorial aspirants are reelectionist Senators Ramon Revilla Jr. and Lito Lapid, and Guico
