Erap, Binay: Mindanao belongs to UNA

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines – “Mindanao belongs to UNA and UNA belongs to Mindanao.”

Vice President Jejomar Binay made this declaration as he and former President Joseph Estrada visited their bailiwick, Cagayan de Oro City in Northern Mindanao. 

Arriving to loud chants of “Erap, Erap, Erap,” Estrada led the opposition United Nationalist Alliance’s (UNA) grand rally here, drawing a crowd of over 50,000 people.

For the first time in two weeks, Estrada and Binay joined UNA’s senatorial candidates to endorse them in what has traditionally been known as Erap country.

Binay addressed the crowd. “Nakakatuwa kayong makita kasi kung ano ang nakita namin ni Pangulong Erap noong 2010, mas marami kayo. Oy mga Liberal, nasaan kayo? O pakitingnan niyo lang ito.” (It is great to see you because the crowd President Erap and I saw in 2010 now became bigger. Hey Liberals, where are you? Take a look at this.)

“Kayo pong mga taga-Cagayan de Oro, ang utang na loob ko sa inyo personal. Nung huli akong tumindig dito sa entabladong ito, kandidato po ako pero dahil sa laki ng nilamang ko dito sa CDO, ang inyong hamak na maitim, mga kasing itim, naging Vice President ng Pilipinas, maraming-maraming salamat po.” (People of Cagayan de Oro, I have deep debt of gratitude to you. When I was last on this stage, I was just a candidate but with the lead you gave me, the lowly black candidate is now Vice President of the Philippines. Thank you so much.)

In 2010, the Estrada-Binay tandem won big here. Estrada got 93,767 votes over President Benigno Aquino III’s 69,554. Binay also had 115,938 votes to rival Mar Roxas’ 70,116.

While Binay was first to speak, Estrada was the crowd favorite. Many were eager to shake his hand, and have their photo taken with him. At one point, squeals from Estrada fans even interrupted Binay’s speech.

When it was his turn to address the crowd, Estrada also cited his debt of gratitude to Cagayan de Oro but said there is only one way he can give back.

“Ako po ay nakikiusap sa inyo, tulungan niyo ako para lahat silang 9 ay straight na …  Kung natalo ako sa ibang probinsya sa Mindanao, dito sa CDO, pinakamalaki ang lamang ko. Iyan ay utang na ‘di ko kayang bayaran. Mababayaran ko lang pag sila’y nahalal. Sila’y babantayan ko na ang pangako nila tutuparin nila,” Estrada said.

(I ask you to please help me to ensure the win of our 9 candidates. If I lost in other Mindanao provinces, here in CDO, I had the biggest lead. That is a debt I can never pay. I can only pay back if you make sure they are elected. I will watch over them to ensure they fulfill their promises.)

Eight out of 9 UNA senatorial candidates faced Cagayan de Oro voters to explain their platforms. Only Sen Gregorio Honasan II was absent due to a prior engagement.

Estrada and Binay’s ally, Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Vicente Emano introduced UNA’s top leaders and hosted the rally.

‘Power crisis is priority’

In their speeches, UNA senatorial candidates stressed the importance of addressing Mindanao’s power crisis.

Former Senate President Ernesto Maceda said the problem will be UNA’s “number one priority,” next to helping Mindanao’s farmers.

Resigned Sen Juan Miguel Zubiri of Bukidnon said Mindanao will experience 4-hour blackouts daily in March, and 6-hour power outages come April.

Speaking in vernacular, Zubiri said, “We have a problem with privatizing the Agus hydropower plant in Iligan and Pulangi in Bukidnon. If that happens, power prices will double because you sell that to a private company.”

Zubiri said UNA will oppose the privatization of the two facilities.

San Juan Rep JV Ejercito also said even before he ran for senator, he has been pushing for the rehabilitation of the Agus-Pulangi complexes. Ejercito said prioritizing the power crisis will be his way of giving back to his family’s supporters.

“Kung ano ang pagmamahal na binigay niyo kay Pangulong Erap, sana ganoon din ang pagmamahal na ibigay niyo sa akin.” (The love you gave to President Erap, I hope that will be the same love you give to me.)

Vice President Binay and former Sen Richard Gordon also discussed their efforts to help victims of Typhoon Sendong. Sendong devastated Cagayan de Oro and Iligan in December 2011, claiming the lives of over 1,000 people.

Binay said he helped the typhoon victims while Gordon his relief efforts. 

“Inutusan niyo ba akong pumunta dito noong lumubog tayo sa Sendong? Nag-adto ako diri. Pati tubig, lahat, dinala ko dito. Meron kayong 5,000 bahay. Lahat ng tao sa Iligan, Cagayan de Oro binigyan ng bahay,” Gordon said. (Did you order me to go here when Sendong hit? I went here. I even brought water. You have 5,000 homes. Everyone here in Iligan, Cagayan de Oro, we gave houses to.)

Netizens though reacted on Twitter that Gordon’s relief efforts were from the Philippine Red Cross. Twitter users also stressed that there are still many problems in the relocation sites for Sendong victims despite politicians’ statements. 

‘Turncoats, persecution’

Besides platform, the typical UNA fare was present: song and dance. This time, comedian Tiya Pusit got Estrada and even Binay to dance “Gangnam Style.”

Yet Estrada and Binay turned serious as they trained their guns on the ruling Liberal Party (LP). On the campaign stage, Estrada echoed his criticism of LP campaign manager Sen Franklin Drilon for being a turncoat and his former ties to the Arroyo administration. 

Binay echoed this, “Kung magsalita (ang LP) akala mo sila lang ang ‘di balimbing. Nandoon ang maraming balimbing.” (They way they talk, you’d think they are not turncoats. Many turncoats are on their side.)

The Vice President also criticized the administration’s alleged political persecution of Emano amid reports the opposition ally will be suspended. Binay likened his case to that of suspended Cebu Gov Gwendolyn “Gwen” Garcia.

Emano is facing administrative charges after an environmental group filed a case of gross negligence and dereliction of duty against him for the deaths and damages from Sendong.

UNA also attacked the supposed small crowds the LP draws in its sorties, saying when administration candidates visited the city, they was only able to gather 5,000 people.

Estrada said, “Nung 2010 elections, mas marami pa ang tao ngayon. Salamat sa inyo.” (There are more people now than in 2010. Thanks to you.) – Rappler.com