Presidential candidates, regardless of their political parties and affiliations, are free to campaign in the province of Sorsogon without fear of sabotage or harassment, according to Governor Chiz Escudero
Keeping the province open to all presidential candidates, along with their tandem, Escudero said, will help the Sorsoganons decide in the May 2022 National Elections their next choice of leaders who will lead the country.
“Mas nais kong bukas ang aming lalawigan para makita at makilala lahat ng tumatakbo sa pagkapangulo para sila rin ang makapili ng may nalalaman at may basehan,” explained Escudero, who is seeking a fresh Senate mandate under the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC).
“Bilang ama ng Sorsogon, nasa interes ng probinsya namin na makilala nila lahat ng tumatakbo para makapili nang husto. Hindi ko sasaraduhan ang aming probinsya tulad ng ibang mga lugar na hindi pwede magpunta, at pinapatayan ng kuryente ‘yung mga rallies,” added the veteran lawmaker, a consistent top pick in various pre-election surveys.
There were 493,116 registered voters in the province Sorsogon in the 2019 Elections.
According to Escudero, candidates have the right to communicate their platform to the electorate as much as people have the right to get the information, they need to be able to fully decide whom to cast in their ballots come election day.
After all, he pointed out, the Filipino people’s vote as a whole will ultimately make or break a candidate.
“Ang tingin ko naman, mapa-senador ka man, presidente ka man, isang boto ka pa rin naman. Sa dulo, ang bibilangin ay boto pa rin ng bawa’t indibidwal. Wala namang mas maraming boto ‘yung governor o presidente o congressman o mayor,” he stressed.
Escudero had served two consecutive terms in the Senate from 2007 to 2019 before he was elected governor of Sorsogon. He also represented the first district of Sorsogon in the House of Representatives from 1998-2007.
Escudero’s senatorial bid is being endorsed, so far, by presidential candidates Vice President Leni Robredo and Senators Ping Lacson and Manny Pacquiao.