The presence of Presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte in the campaign sorties of administration candidates is a big boost and crowd drawer, Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara said.
“We’ve been going around the country and most of the places we went to are with a big crowd,” Angara said.
He noted that in their previous sorties in Nueva Ecija, about 20,000 people witnessed the campaign and in Quezon City, there were about 13,000 supporters. Both were attended by the presidential daughter.
“I think she is one, if not the main draw in our sorties,” Angara said during a basketball event here Sunday.
Mayor Sara has endorsed 13 senatorial candidates under the Hugpong ng Pagbabago party.
These candidates are Angara, Pia Cayetano, Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, Jinggoy Estrada, Cynthia Villar, Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Christopher “Bong” Go, Ronald dela Rosa, Francis Tolentino, Jiggy Manicad, Imee Marcos, and Zajid Mangundadatu.
Angara also lauded the stamina of the Davao City chief executive for never failing to appear in their campaign sorties despite the failure of some senatorial candidates to attend the political rallies.
“Her energy and dedication are exceptional. In the past 20 days since the campaign started, she was always present, she was never exhausted or burned-out,” he added.
Meanwhile, Angara said he rejected the debate challenge from opposition candidates, saying the debate would be used as a venue for negative campaigning.
“Campaigning for the senatorial position is not a one-on-one race but a campaign for people to vote for the 12 best senators,” Angara said.
Although he initially rejected the debate challenge from the opposition Otso Diretso team, he said he might accept the challenge if it is organized by the Commission on Elections. (PNA)
