CEBU, Philippines – His rivals may have made key alliances in the vote-rich province of Cebu but Liberal Party (LP) standard-bearer Manuel Roxas II belittled these ties on Friday, April 8, pointing out that they’re in bed with “discredited” politicians. 

“Pero itong mga alliances na ito ay with discredited politicians, di ba? Kita naman ng mga Cebuano iyong uri ng pamamahala ni Gov Junjun Davide, Vice Governor Agnes Magpale, buong pangkat ng ‘Daang Matuwid,’” Roxas told reporters in Naga City on the sidelines of a campaign rally. 

(But these alliances are with discredited politicians, right? The Cebuanos know the kind of leadership Junjun Davide, Vice Governor Agnes Magpale and the entire Daang Matuwid coalition can bring.) 

Cebu province is seen as a key bailiwick of Roxas and the ruling party. Both Roxas and then presidential candidate Benigno Aquino III swept the province in 2010. In 2013, majority of the LP-led “Team PNoy” Senate slate topped Cebu. 

Roxas’ 3rd visit to Cebu in two months indicates his efforts to keep the province on his side amid inroads made by his rivals.

Last week, the Garcia clan left the camp of presidential bet Jejomar Binay and threw their support behind Rodrigo Duterte. (READ: One Cebu promises 1 million votes for Duterte)

Another presidential candidate, Senator Grace Poe, is allied with Cebu 5th district representative and erstwhile LP member Representative Ace Durano. 

But Roxas said he was banking on the current administration’s projects and programs – infrastructure undertakings, universal health care, the popular conditional cash transfer program, among others – in clinching the Cebuano vote. 

“Nagtitiwala ako na marunong kumilatis ang mga Cebuano at makikita nila kung ano ang mabuti para sa ekonomiya, para sa kaunlaran, para sa magandang bukas nila at ng kanilang mga anak,” added Roxas. 

(I’m confident that Cebuanos know how to discern and they see who’s best for the economy, for development, for a better future for themselves and their children.) 

But the dynamics in the province, home to over 2.7 million voters, are different in 2016. 

According to the latest Manila Standard Poll conducted by Laylo Research Strategies, Inc., 55% of those surveyed from the Central Visayas region would vote for Duterte, the lone Bisaya-speaking presidential candidate.

Roxas followed with a distant 27%. 

Many of Cebu’s incumbents are either members of or allied with Roxas and the ruling party. In Naga City, 1st District Representative Samsam Gullas heaped praises on Roxas, who he said he’s trusted ever since – even when Roxas registered a measly 4% in preference polls. 

Gullas belongs to the Nacionalista Party (NP) but is allied with the LP. 

On Friday, Roxas is set to campaign in Mandaue City, the turf of incumbent representative and now mayoral candidate Luigi Quisimbing. – Rappler.com