NP bets ‘conquer’ Capiz, get rousing welcome

NACIONALISTA PARTY (NP) STANDARD-BEARER MANNY VILLAR AND HIS RUNNING MATE LOREN LEGARDA YESTERDAY RECEIVED A WARM WELCOME IN CAPIZ, SUPPOSED BAILIWICK OF THEIR CLOSEST RIVALS, AS LOCAL LEADERS THREW SUPPORT TO THE WHOLE NP SLATE.
A total of 13 out of the 17 incumbent mayors in Capiz, including Roxas City Mayor Vicente Bermejo, have already signified support for the tandem of Villar and Legarda and the NP senatorial slate.
Villar said they chose to kick off their Visayas campaign in Roxas City – the home town of Liberal Party vice-presidential candidate Sen. Mar Roxas – in order to prove the NP’s political strength.
“It’s a tactical strategy. Kailangang makapa rin namin ang aming suporta maski na dun sa lugar ng kalaban,” he said in an interview with reporters.
“Nagpapahiwatig lang ito na ang Nacionalista Party ay hindi takot. At ang grupo namin ay hindi takot pumunta sa anumang lugar, kalaban man o hindi.”
Villar, Legarda, and a majority of NP senatorial candidates arrived in Roxas City yesterday morning and went straight to the city hall, where they paid a courtesy visit to Bermejo and local officials.
The NP candidates were able to meet residents of the city as they went from place to place, including a market and school tour.
“Wala kaming naramdaman na iyon ay Roxas (Mar) territory. Roxas City ang pangalan pero napakainit ng pagtanggap sa buong grupo at siguro isa na sa pinakamainit na pagtanggap na nakita namin so far,” Villar said.
“And saan man kami dumako, marami kaming pinuntahan, marami kaming tinigilan na lugar, pero nakita namin talaga ang init ng pagtanggap sa amin.”
He explained that the warm welcome may have come from the desire of the people of Capiz for “genuine change” and that the NP slate promises to do that for them.
“Naniniwala ako na naiinip din naman ang mga Capizeño sa progreso at gusto rin naman nila makakita ng pagbabago sa lalawigan ng Capiz at iyun ang pinadama nila sa amin kaninang umaga,” he said.
“Maraming mayor ang sumusuporta sa amin, hindi lang mayor, napakaraming lider ang sumusuporta sa amin. Sa banding huli makikita natin ang kabuuan na mas maraming opisyal pa ang susuporta sa amin.”
In Aklan, Villar and the NP slate were also warmly welcomed by residents in Balete while attending the inauguration of a new market.