Poe, Duterte, Roxas sons almost cross paths in Cagayan Valley sorties

CAGAYAN, Philippines – What are the odds that the sons of 3 presidential bets would campaign in the same region on the same day?

Well, it happened. On Wednesday, April 13, the sons of Senator Grace Poe, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, and former Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II visited the provinces of Isabela and Cagayan to campaign on their behalf.

Brian Poe Llamanzares, head of the Kabataan-Poe (Youth-Poe), made the rounds of Tuguegarao City to “lay out Grace Poe’s agenda for the youth.”

In his speech, Llamanzares said one of Poe’s plans for the youth is the implementation of the “Study Now, Pay Later” program in all public universities.

Reacting to the recent survey showing that his mom dropped to second place, Llamanzares said they are now banking on the grassroots and looking to the next presidential debate to carry his mother to victory.

In the Pulse Asia survey conducted from March 29 to April 3, voter preference for Duterte surged to 30%, pushing down Poe to second place with 25%.

“Ang importante lang talaga ay kung ano ang nangyayari sa grassroots. Kumbaga, ‘yung importante dito ay tulad ng ginagawa ko na na’ndito ngayon na pumupunta po sa inyo para malaman ko ang mga concerns ‘nyo, para ‘tuloy po ang laban natin,” he said.

(What’s important is what is happening in the grassroots. What’s important is we continue to reach out to the youth to know your concerns, so our fight goes on.)

“Kaya napakahalaga rin ‘yung susunod na debate. Kasi sa ganito pong klaseng race na sobrang dikit po, ang importante po ay ‘yung plataporma. Kasi maraming undecided voters ngayon…kaya naghahanda po ‘yung nanay ko,”  he said.

(That’s why the next debate is very important. Because in a very tight race like this, the platform is very important. There are many undecided voters…so my mom is preparing now.)

Meanwhile, the sons of Duterte and Roxas visited Isabela province.

Roxas’ son, Paolo, joined Liberal Party vice presidential candidate Leni Robredo in a program for overseas Filipino workers in Cauayan City.

Paolo spoke about his father’s accomplishments under the Aquino administration, and defended him from critics and “propaganda.”

Robredo and Paolo later visited Allacapan town in Cagayan province.

Duterte’s son Sebastian was warmly welcomed in Cauayan City. People were chanting his father’s name as he went around.

Sebastian had a motorcade around the city while the camp of Robredo and Roxas were attending a program at the Cauayan City Coliseum. – Rappler.com