‘Barred’ from rivals’ bailiwicks: Harassment or ‘laziness’?

(UPDATED) Among the 2016 tandems, it seems that Senator Grace Poe and Senator Francis Escudero are the only ones experiencing being “barred” from holding some campaign activities in their rivals’ bailiwicks.

On February 17, Poe, Escudero, and some of their senatorial candidates were supposed to hold a consultation with students in a public school in Roxas City in Capiz, the hometown of administration standard-bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, but it didn’t push through.

The candidates then moved to a nearby mall but said they were not given a permit, so they settled for the CAP Development Center in the city.

More than a week later, the Poe-Escudero team found itself in a similar situation, this time in Davao City and in Leyte – bailiwicks of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Imelda Marcos, respectively.

The former first lady’s son, Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr, is running for vice president.

Based on the stories about the incident, campaign organizers told reporters they had to postpone the scheduled rally in Davao City on Thursday, February 25, as they were not issued a permit.

The team moved to Tacloban City in Leyte, where it secured the necessary permits to hold an event at the RTR Plaza, a venue that can fit over 20,000 people. But then, the campaign organizers claimed, barangay officials were  ordered by the local government not to cooperate with the team, in terms of bringing people to the event. This was apparently their explanation for their difficulty in filling up the place.

These allegations don’t seem far-fetched – the Poe-Escudero tandem continues to lead the pre-election survey. Besides, Philippine politics is rife with stories of campaign tricks pulled by opposing camps to get ahead.

Roxas had denied having any hand in it, saying anyone is free to hold campaign rallies in his turf. The Duterte camp had a more direct response: Poe’s campaign organizers were simply “lazy.”

“They did not do their job. That’s not our fault or the city government of Davao’s fault,” said Duterte’s spokesman, Peter Laviña. He explained that while Poe’s team filed an application to conduct a rally in Davao City, the application was “not pursued.”

Was this “laziness” also the reason for the other “barring” incidents? A very belated response from the Poe camp, however, said that after “realignments” they decided to hold the rally in Tacloban instead and reschedule the Davao rally. Thus, “no request for rally permits were submitted to the Davao City Government.”

The statement added, “Partido Galing at Puso is excited and looking forward to its upcoming rally in Davao City in the coming days of the campaign. Senator Poe will detail to the great people of Davao her platform of governance that is anchored on Gobyernong may Puso.” For sure, Davao will be waiting. – Rappler.com