A “People’s Proclamation Rally” and meeting with political and sectoral leaders in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental will cap the visit of Vice President Leni Robredo and Kiko Pangilinan to the province on Tuesday, May 3.
Former Governor Rafael Coscolluela, Robredo People’s Council (RPC) provincial campaign manager, on Sunday, May 1, said Robredo is expected to attend a mini-rally in Bago City for a late afternoon event that will be followed by a 20-kilometer caravan of Kakampinks that will end up in Bacolod City.
Robredo and Pangilinan, will be endorsed by political and multi-sectoral leaders representing Negros Occidental’s 31 component cities and municipalities in an event dubbed as a “People’s Proclamation Rally”, a press release from the RPC said.
Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, congressional candidate Dan Atayde and about eight Grupo Progreso aspirants for councilor, will proclaim the Leni-Kiko tandem in a separate program to be held at an a adjacent venue, also at the Acacia Hotel, Coscolluela said.
The RPC Bacolod event will also be attended by barangay leaders and coordinators of Grupo Progreso.
Also on hand to assist the RPC during the visit are leaders and volunteers of Laban Leni Negros Occidental, Coscolluela added.
The former governor pointed out that Robredo appears to have a very hectic itinerary during her Western Visayas visit, with a series of events in Iloilo and Panay areas before flying to Bacolod in the afternoon.
He, however, said he is in no position to divulge details yet but “certainly she and Senator Kiko will have more time to interact with Negros leaders up close and personal”.
Dr. Romana de los Reyes, RPC Bago coordinator, a staunch Robredo supporter and an environment advocate, said Bagoeños are eager and excited to welcome Roberedo.
“Her visit is a recognation of the overwhelming votes of 46,110 she got here in 2016,” de los Reyes pointed out.
Bago City, among the province’s 13 component cities gave Robredo the highest number of votes, apparently because of grassroots mobilization as well as the support of the Araneta family when she was Mar Roxas’ runningmate.
Sagay City, the turf of the late Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr., delivered the second highest number of votes with 43,974, followed by Cadiz City – 41,818, Kabankalan City – 40,759 and Silay City – 36,165, Edwin Nacionales, RPC Negros Occidental operations head, said.
Bacolod, a highly-urbanized city, delivered 119,447 votes for Robredo in 2016, Nacionales added.
Robredo is visiting the province Tuesday on the heels of a recent survey showing that she and Senator Kiko are leading the race in the province that has over two million voters, he said.
Robredo is comfortably ahead with 48.9 percent against the 24 percent of the second-ranked presidential aspirant, Coscolluela earlier said.*