Duterte-Endorsed Senate Bets Move Iloilo Rally to April

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

The grand rally of senatorial candidates endorsed by former President Rodrigo Duterte in Iloilo City has been postponed to April.

Atty. Hansel O. Didulo, a former Department of Agriculture assistant secretary under Duterte, announced on Feb. 25 that the March 1 rally has been rescheduled to an undetermined date due to conflicts in the national and local campaign schedules of the nine candidates.

The Duterte-backed Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) senatorial lineup includes Senators Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa and Christopher “Bong” Go, along with Atty. Jimmy Bondoc, Atty. Jesus Hinlo Jr., Atty. Raul Lambino, actor Philip Salvador, Rep. Rodante “Dante” Marcoleta, and Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.

PDP-Laban was initially set to hold its campaign rally at La Paz Freedom Park in the La Paz district at 1 p.m. on March 1.

The same park was the venue for Duterte’s presidential campaign rally in April 2016, which was marred by controversy after his camp claimed that the event was deliberately cut off from electricity.

Iloilo is known for its political leanings favoring the opposition, particularly the Liberal Party (LP).

In the 2016 presidential election, LP’s candidate, Manuel Roxas II, won overwhelmingly in the province and city, despite losing the national race to Duterte.

Duterte was initially expected to lead his senatorial candidates’ endorsement on March 1.

However, there is no confirmation yet on whether he will attend the rescheduled rally in April.

Meanwhile, Comelec-Iloilo City Assistant Officer II Jonathan Sayno said they have not yet received an official notice regarding the PDP-Laban rally.

On Feb. 27, the Iloilo City Traffic and Transportation Management Office released its traffic management plan for the now-postponed rally.