CAVITE, Philippines – Feisty Otso Diretso senatorial bet Samira Gutoc did not mince words against one of her opponents Bong Revilla, even if she was campaigning in his bailiwick Cavite. 

Though she did not mention specific names, Gutoc slammed what she called thieves-turned-candidates during her speech in a campaign sortie held in front of the historic Aguinaldo Shrine at Kawit, Cavite, on Monday, May 6. 

“Dignidad ang hinahanap natin, marangal na trabaho. Kaya tayo ay nagsasama-sama, para magdesisyon para sa ating kinabukasan na ninanakaw ng mga tao na nagnanakaw na nga, may kaso, tumatakbo pa. Anong klaseng eleksyon ‘yan?” Gutoc said in an impassioned speech. 

(We’re looking for dignity, honorable work. This is why we are coming together, to decide for our future that is being stolen by people who are not just thieves and facing cases, but who are also running for office. What kind of elections is that?)

Her speech was met by loud cheers from the crowd, most of whom were there to support reelectionist Cavite 1st District Representative Boy Blue Abaya. He invited Otso Diretso to his miting de avance on Monday.

Gutoc and other Otso Diretso bets have long been hitting corruption-linked administration candidates from the Hugpong ng Pagbabago slate, among them Revilla and Jinggoy Estrada who were charged with plunder for their alleged involvement in the pork barrel scam.  

In December 2018, however, the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan cleared Revilla of plunder, yet also ordered him to return P124 million to the Philippine treasury. Estrada, meanwhile, is currently out on bail. 

Revilla’s clan considers Cavite – the country’s second most vote-rich province with more than 2.1 million registered voters – as their stronghold. 

Revilla’s wife Lani Mercado Revilla is running for reelection as Bacoor City mayor, while their son Jolo is running for vice governor once again. Revilla’s brother Strike is also gunning for reelection as congressman of the second district.

While Abaya hosted Otso Diretso in Kawit, he did not raise their hands onstage. The congressman, however, went onstage alone and rallied support for every Otso Diretso bet before his crowd of supporters on Monday. The opposition senatorial bets then gave their respective speeches. – Rappler.com