Will Erap magic work for UNA in Mindanao?

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines – The opposition United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) campaigns in Mindanao, so-called Erap country, amid a deadly standoff in Sabah. 



What is the opposition’s stand on the burning issue? 



Will former President Joseph Estrada’s popularity in the region translate to votes for his senatorial bets? 



Ayee Macaraig tells us in more in this video blog.

Erap magic.

That’s the weapon the opposition United Nationalist Alliance is counting on as it campaigns in Mindanao particularly here in Cagayan de Oro for the first time.

UNA’s senatorial bets rely on the popularity of former President Joseph Estrada who topped the polls here in 2010. 

They credit that to his declaration of an all-out war against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and allocation of a big budget for Mindanao during his presidency.

But even before Estrada hits the campaign trail, UNA stages a show of force in Bukidnon, the home province of its candidate Migz Zubiri.

The sortie and festival attract all of 50,000 people.

A key issue that coincides with UNA’s Mindanao sortie is the deadly Sabah standoff.

UNA candidates criticize the administration for supposedly bungling the response to that issue.

But unlike the candidates, Estrada is more cautious of criticizing Aquino. 

JOSEPH ESTRADA

FORMER PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT

Kaysa magka-giyera pa, dalhin na natin sa International Court of Justice. There’ll be bloodshed. Ngayon lang, marami nang namatay. Let’s be practical about it to avoid bloodshed and a war against Malaysia but I still believe Sabah still belongs to the Philippines. 

JUAN MIGUEL ZUBIRI

UNA SENATORIAL BET

It smacks of arrogance na palagi ang salita nila ay di namin kayo kakausapin hanggang ipullout ang troops sa Sabah. Ang dating ayaw niyo kaming kausapin hanggang bumalik ang mga tao. Sana huwag ganoon because it reminds me of what happened of Manila hostage crisis in Quirino Grandstand. 

Estrada and Vice President Jejomar Binay will lead the Cagayan de Oro sortie here Sunday night.

Cagayan de Oro has over 200,000 voters and is the hometown of administration candidate Sen Koko Pimentel.

But UNA is not worried.

After all, Estrada topped the polls here and even Zubiri beat Pimentel in 2007. 

The message to the crowd is simple: the administration is not doing enough to address Mindanao’s concerns like Sabah, the power crisis, and the needs of victims of Typhoon Pablo.

We will see if the voters, the Cagayanons, the Mindanaoans will be convinced.

Ayee Macaraig, Rappler, Cagayan de Oro. – Rappler.com