Bicolanos seen to go overwhelmingly for Aquino-Roxas tandem

Traditional yellow vote expected to deliver victory for LP bets

Albay Gov. Joey Salceda today said a strong tradition among Bicolanos to vote “yellow” every election and a strong ground campaign would deliver a solid Bicolano vote on May 10 to Liberal Party standard-bearers Senators Benigno S. Aquino III and Mar Roxas.

Salceda, the new LP chairman charged with managing the campaign for the party in the region, gave the confident assessment as Aquino and Roxas barnstormed the Bicol region in the final leg of their campaign for the top elective posts in the May 10 national elections.

He said an independent region-wide multi-stage survey with 1,400 respondents showed an overwhelming support of 53% for both Aquino and Roxas. Salceda said the LP is targeting to deliver at least 60% of the 3.4 million Bicolano votes to Aquino and Roxas.

To strengthen the “yellow” tradition among Bicolanos, simultaneous meetings are being held everyday in all of the 781 barangays of the Bicol region, aside from the house-to-house campaign being done by supporters and volunteers of Aquino and Roxas and the LP senatorial ticket SLAMAT LORRRD.

“We are working for a solid Aquino-Roxas support on the ground, especially in the mainland. Every barangay, every family, we are working on ensuring they vote for Aquino and Roxas,” he said.

Asked about Bicolano Sen. Chiz Escudero’s endorsement of a vice-presidential candidate from another party, Salceda said he is confident his personal campaigning for Aquino and Roxas will have more impact on voters on Election Day than Escudero’s well-funded advertising campaign.

“Our difference (between him and Chiz) is that I have a working political machinery and my barangay officials can work on the voters more effectively than his advertisement,” he said.

Salceda, who is running unopposed for governor of Albay province, pointed out the LP has strong support in the region because Bicolanos have always “voted yellow,” citing the strong sentiment among the people for the legacy of the late President Corazon Aquino.