LAGUNA, Philippines – President Benigno Aquino makes a second trip to Laguna to campaign for Team PNoy’s local candidates. He demolishes UNA candidate, incumbent Laguna governor ER Ejercito.

Natashya Gutierrez reports.

President Benigno Aquino visits vote-rich Laguna for the second time since the start of the campaign. This time, he goes local, slamming local opponents as the race in the province heats up.

Aquino wants to unseat the incumbent governor and replace him with his own bet.

The president attacks Laguna governor ER Ejercito, the candidate of the opposition United Nationalist Alliance for supposedly senseless projects.

BENIGNO AQUINO III, PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT: Ang enggrandeng plano po kasi nila: magbungkal ng lupa sa isang bahagi ng Laguna de Bay, para mas maraming tubig daw ang kayanin nitong lamnan, subalit ang nahukay palang lupa, ililipat lang din sa kabilang bahagi ng lawa. Ang galing, di po ba? Ang magiging resulta: di lamang bilyon-bilyong pisong mababaon sa lupa, mananatili pang nasa peligro at kawalang-katiyakan ang maraming Pilipino. Sa tuwid na daan, maibabaon na natin sa limot ang mga proyektong tulad nito.

(Their grand plan is to dig up land in some part of Laguna de Bay so it can hold more water. But land dug up will just be moved to another part of the lake. The result is not just billions of pesos buried underground but many Filipinos will be put in harm’s way. In the straight and narrow path, projects like these will be buried in memory).

He pushes hard for his candidate, 4th district representative Egay San Luis.

AQUINO: Kung tunay na pagmamalasakit sa bayan at kapwa ang pag-uusapan— sa totoong buhay po at hindi sa mga pelikula lamang— buong-buo po ang tiwala ko sa susunod ninyong Gobernador: si Egay San Luis.

(If we’re talking about true compassion for his country and fellowmen, in real life and not just in movies, I have complete trust in your next governor: Egay San Luis).

Team PNoy’s second visit to Laguna makes sense.

The province is the fifth vote richest province in the country with 1.5 million registered voters for 2013.

In 2010, it backed Aquino’s presidential bid, as well as vice president Jejomar Binay’s candidacy. Binay is one of UNA’s leaders.

In UNA’s visit here a few days earlier, the coalition expressed confidence it would win because of Ejercito’s influence over the province.

Team PNoy is confident of its chances too.

Aquino uses his projects in the last 3 years as leverage to convince Laguna to support him again.

Will it be enough?

Natashya Gutierrez, Rappler, Laguna. – Rappler.com