The campaign is on

February 16, 2013
In the Philippines the official campaign period, 12 additional members of the Philippine Senate and more than 100 party-list groups started this week with the two major political coalitions firing off their campaigns separately – in Plaza Miranda in Quiapo, Manila for the administration ticket and in Cebu City for the opposition United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).
The administration party has no less than President Benigno S. Aquino III as chief campaigner while UNA has the so-called three kings – Vice President Jejomar Binay, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and former President Joseph Estrada.
This early, the campaign is shaping up as a proxy battle in preparation for the presidential election three years later in 2016. On one side is the administration’s Liberal Party which will field Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Mar Roxas II and the opposition UNA with VP Binay as its standard bearer.
Thus, the campaign on both sides are full of promises as well as criticisms for the years to come..
There are now more than 52 million voters in the Philippines and tevery campaign will see various ways to sway the voters into supporting their candidates in all types of persuasion, money and guns being the more popular forms. Despite the election gun ban, many people have been caught carrying their firearms and ammunition. Thus, there have also been killings and attempted killings of candidates, including incumbent officials, from the barangay up to the highest level.
The May 13, 2013 election is crucial to both President Aquino and his candidates and to VP Binay, the expected frontrunner in the 2016 presidential elections.Expect not just songs and dances and fiery speeches but also more dirty tricks from the candidates and their supporters.
We join the millions of Filipinos who wish not only for an honest, peaceful and orderly elections but also for people’s responsible and intelligent exercise of their right to vote.