By ALLAN YVES BRIONES
IT was supposedly the Daang Matuwid Coalition’s last hurrah, the Liberal Party’s final appeal to convince the people that they are the right people to move the country forward come election day.
Instead, those who attended the miting de avance at the Quezon City Memorial Circle Saturday, estimated to be between 75,000 to 150,000, heard one message loud and clear: Not Duterte.
Several members of the administration slate slammed the Davao City mayor in an attempt to gain ground against the clear favorite in the May 9 presidential elections.
Even President Benigno Aquino III, campaigning for his former secretary of the interior, called for Filipinos to remember traditional Filipino values in celebration of Mother’s Day, in a clear swipe against the race frontrunner.
[metaslider id=35627]
“Maganda nga po alalahanin ang turo ng ating mga ina ukol sa mabuting asal. Sabi sa akin noon ng sarili kong nanay, wag magmura. Galangin ang ating kapwa…huwag mambastos ng kababaihan (It is important to remember all of our mothers’ lessons about good conduct. My mother told me when I was young to avoid indecent language. Respect each other…and respect the Filipino women.),” Aquino said.
The president said that a looming Duterte presidency is bad for the peso. “Habang di umano’y lumalaki ang posibilidad na siya (Duterte) ang magiging susunod na pangulo, sabay namang bumababa ang halaga ng piso (While the possibility that Duterte will become president increases, the value of the peso decreases).”
LP standard bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, who trails behind Duterte according to the most recent Pulse Asia survey, echoed the chief executive and repeated what he has said in previous interviews.
“Natatakot (ang Pilipino) sa nakikita nilang alternatibo daw sa ating pamumuno. Pero nakikita natin: kabastusan, kawalang takot sa Diyos, walang plano, pang-iinsulto, puro soundbite lang, komunismo, marahas na kamay. Wala na ang rule of law (The voters are scared of what they’re seeing as an alternative to our leadership. But what we see: vulgarity, no fear of God, reckless, insulting, good only for soundbites, communism, violent. There is no longer rule of law. ),” Roxas said of Duterte.
Vice presidential candidate Leni Robredo, on the other hand, has opted for a less confrontational approach, as she expressed confidence about her chances in the upcoming elections.
“Bukas po magdidiwang tayo ng Mother’s Day, at ngayong gabi, sinasabi ko sa inyong lahat: handang handa na din po ako maging nanay ng ating Inang Bayan (Tomorrow we will celebrate Mother’s Day, and tonight, I say to every one of you: I am ready to become the mother of our nation.),” Robredo said, who is leading the VP race based on the same survey.
Senatorial candidate and former Justice secretary Leila de Lima also condemned the mayor in her campaign speech.
“Tayo ay mga disenteng Pilipino. Walang lugar sa berdugo, walang lugar sa diktador (We are all decent Filipinos. There is no room for an executioner, no room for a dictator),” she said.
The rest of the senatorial slate stated reiterated their platforms during the five-hour program. Former tourism chief Mark Lapid’s speech revolved around “Dahil sa turismo, may trabaho (Because with tourism, we find employment),” while former Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) director Joel Villanueva continued to ride his platform of providing more jobs and free skills training, among others.
Senatorial candidates Panfilo “Ping” Lacson and Cresente Paez were no-shows, while former energy secretary Jericho Petilla was represented by his son, Carl Anthony.
Other guests included all three Robredo daughters and several cabinet secretaries. Roxas’ wife and TV news anchor Korina Sanchez was also there.
On Monday, Roxas and Robredo fly home to Capiz and Camarines Sur respectively to vote.