By Christina I. Hermoso, Genalyn D. Genalyn, Ben R. Rosario, Hannah L. Torregoza, Charissa M. Luci, Ellson A. Quismorio, and Vanne Elaine P. Terrazola
The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) Chairperson Henrietta T. de Villa lamented what she termed as “vicious campaigning” that took place prior to today’s national elections, with the presidential candidates ripping one another in their respective “miting de avance” and street party last Saturday.
“Since the beginning of the automated election system in 2010, I’m sad to say that it’s only now that we experienced this terrible campaigning,” lamented De Villa in a CBCP News post.
“Never had there been a time when the elections have been subjected to such vicious campaigning,” she said.
“It seems that good manners and right conduct doesn’t matter anymore. What is important is to win at all cost,” she added.
PNOY HITS DUTERTE
In his harshest argument against presidential frontrunner Rodrigo Duterte, President Aquino has warned the electorate about the Davao City mayor whom he likened to Adolf Hitler and who may bring ruin to the country.
The President made the veiled comparison during the final administration rally at the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City on Saturday night where he urged the voters to learn from history and unite behind a presidential candidate who is God-fearing, just, compassionate and will continue the “Daang Matuwid” governance.
With a crowd estimated at more than 300,000 at the Luneta Grandstand in Manila, the man the President likened to Hitler – PDP-Laban’s Rodrigo Duterte stood in the middle of the sea of humanity and dismissed as black propaganda accusations that he will rule as a dictator.
“What we can offer is real change that will benefit the poor, the common Filipino, and one that will allow them to sleep well at night,” Duterte told the huge crowd that braved the heat for more than five hours just to listen to what the Davao City mayor had to say.
Also in Manila, at the historic Plaza Miranda, presidential aspirant Senator Grace Poe made a final push for her “Gobyernong may Puso” (government with a heart) with help from her friends and supporters from the entertainment industry.
Also in Quezon City, youth supporters of Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago organized a street party in front of her law office in West Triangle, Quezon City.
In Makati City, Vice President Jejomar C. Binay made an appeal to President Aquino to make sure that the elections are clean.
“I’m making this appeal as a common Filipino,” Binay said in Filipino in front of some 60,000 supporters during UNA’s Miting de Avance in his bailiwick of Makati City. “Mr. President, I hope that you will use your power as father of the country to make sure that the elections are clean,” the Vice President said.
The President pulled no punches against Duterte while campaigning for Liberal Party standard bearer Mar Roxas and his running mate Leni Robredo during the miting de avance held at the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City. Aquino devoted the bulk of his speech on questioning Duterte’s iron-fist leadership style, his alleged undeclared wealth, unclear campaign platform, and even his links to the local communist group.
In his remarks last Saturday, the President called anew for a unity vote against Duterte, saying the mayor possesses 30 percent support of voters, at least 70 percent of voters are against him.
The outgoing President was a big hit among the crowd as he mocked Duterte’s misguided values. Aquino said since the nation was observing Mother’s Day, it was prudent to remember the teachings of his mother, the late President Corazon Aquino, about good behavior.
“Ang sabi sa akin noon ng sarili kong nanay, huwag magmura. Galangin ang ating kapwa [My mom told me not to cuss or swear and to respect others],” Aquino said, drawing applause from the audience.
MAMMOTH LUNETA CROWD
Taking his last campaign stand at the spacious Rizal Park, Duterte took the occasion to vigorously campaign for running-mate Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, whose poll ratings have also started to improve although still lagging behind rivals Senator Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr. and Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo of Liberal Party.
Duterte also vowed to act with decency as president, giving up the rowdy character he has been pictured to be.
Duterte also batted for support for at least five party-list organizations, including the PBA Party-list that listed nephew, Coco Nograles and Mark Sambar as nominees.
The Bagong Henerasyon party-list was also represented in the huge crowd of Duterte supporters at the five-hour rally.
Duterte gave special mention to boxing idol Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao who joined the team of United Nationalist Alliance Vice President Jejomar Binay, stressing that Pacquaio is a fellow Mindanaoan who should be voted to the Senate.
Other senatorial bets allied with other parties who won Duterte’s endorsement were Reps. Martin Romualdez, also a Binay ally; Samuel Pagdilao and Roman Romulo, both members of the Grace Poe-Chiz Escudero team.
Others in the Duterte list of senators are retired Gen. Dionisio Santiago, former Quezon City Councilor Dante Liban; former Interior and Local Government Secretary Rafael Alunan, former Manila Councilor Greco Belgica and Sandra Cam.
STREET PARTY
About 1,000 members of the Youth for Miriam Movement trooped in front of the Defensor-Santiago Offices in 4th St., West Triangle and held a thanksgiving street party to celebrate the senator’s last day of campaign. The party, initiated only through a social media post on Friday, had encouraged some of its members coming from its chapters from various cities in Metro Manila and even provinces of Bataan, Laguna, Bulacan, Cavite, Pampanga, Pangasinan and Davao, the organizers said.
An independent band performed live as they waited for Santiago to arrive. Impersonators of Santiago and Vice President Jejomar Binay entertained the crowd with a dance showdown. Comedian and online sensation “Ate Gay” also attended the party to show support.
Santiago arrived with her running mate, vice-presidential contender Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. at around 8:30 p.m.
“Ito ang partido na hindi nagnakaw ng pera. Ang ninakaw na pera, ginagamit ngayon, kasalukuyan, dun sa mga bus at jeepney doon sa Quezon Circle…Dumaan ako doon, kita-kitang ng dalawang mata ko mga babae, na may hawak-hawak na envelope,” Santiago said.
“Wala tayong envelope ngayong gabi pero pagkatapos ng anim na taon, sobra pa sa envelope (ang makukuha niyo),” she followed, garnering her crowd’s cheer.
She slammed her rivals, who, to her, have the guts to claim they are the best candidates.
“Ang lakas ng loob nitong mga nagsasabing sila daw ang magiging magaling na presidente. Kitang-kita ang paglabas ng pera nila, saan nila kinuha ang pera?”
“Kaya kung binoto mo yun sa Lunes, sa Martes mag-umpisa na yan magnakaw ng pera,” she followed.
WORTH THE FIGHT
Poe came full circle Saturday night, ending 90 days of campaign around the country at the Plaza Miranda in Manila where the senator officially kicked off her presidential bid last Feb. 9.
“I believe this is the hardest thing I’ve ever gone through and my family. I endured all the criticisms, all the hurtful things said about my character, against my family, lies hurled against me, I accepted everything because I know this fight is not only about myself but for all of you,” Poe told thousands of supporters gathered in front of the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo.
Partido Galing at Puso’s miting de avance was attended by celebrity supporters including superstar Nora Aunor, singer-composer Ogie Alcasid, Carmina Villaroel, Poe’s sister Lovi Poe, Heart Evangelista, wife of Poe’s running mate Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero, singer Angeline Quinto, former child star Niño Muhlach, Epy Quizon, and Ruby Rodriguez.
“I hope that in the next six years, fear won’t rule in this country but rather contentment for each of us—with a leader who would look after your needs, who would listen to you, that you would feel and a government that would give what you need,” she said.
ELECTORAL FRAUD
Binay’s worries on possible cheating stemmed from the reported irregularities in the Commission on Elections (Comelec) test run of the vote counting machines (VCMs) it will use on poll day.
“Ten different names were entered [in the machine], but only one name came out,” he said, referring to a supposed VCM glitch in Mindanao.
As such, Binay asked the Comelec to “take away the people’s doubt.”