Camarines Sur (CNN Philippines) – Sen. Grace Poe did not waste time in going around Camarines Sur on Tuesday (October 6).
While she travelled without her Bicolano running mate, Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero, the presidential survey front runner still engaged local leaders and supporters as she prepares for next year’s presidential elections.
The senator was the guest of honor in a gathering of about 15,000 teachers in Naga.
But an education official said Liberal Party’s (LP) newly proclaimed vice presidential bet Camarines Sur 3rd district Rep. Leni Robredo is also expected to appear in the teachers’ assembly after Poe.
She began her sortie with a gathering of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) organized by first district Rep. Rolando Andaya, Jr.
Andaya, an NPC stalwart, told reporters they are pushing for the tandem of Poe and Escudero.
Reports said other local leaders like former Camarines Sur Governor Luis Raymund “Lray” Villafuerte of the Nacionalista Party (NP), will campaign for Poe but not for Escudero. The influential Villafuerte political clan in the province has yet to throw their support for a certain vice-presidential bet.
Bicol divided by vice presidential contenders
There is no doubt Bicol region will be one of the main battlegrounds for next year’s election.
Aside from Escudero, Robredo has been formally declared on Monday (October 5) as Liberal Party’s (LP) vice presidential standard bearer and running mate of Manuel “Mar” Roxas II.
Related: Liberal Party officially declares Roxas-Robredo tandem for 2016
Other vice presidential hopefuls senators Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV, Alan Peter Cayetano, and possibly Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan, all hail from Bicol.
This explains the complexity of the province’s political landscape that could split the region’s vote.
Bicol has a voting population of more than 2-million, with the province of camarines sur having more than half of that number.
