President Aquino set to join LP campaign sortie in Cebu Wednesday

President Benigno S. Aquino III is set to join the campaign rally of the Liberal Party (LP) in front of the Cebu Capitol Wednesday afternoon.

Among those expected to join him are LP presidential candidate Mar Roxas, his running mate Representative Leni Robredo, local LP candidates and Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) candidates in Cebu City led by former mayor and former congressman Tomas Osmena who is seeking to wrest the mayoral seat from incumbent Mayor Michael Rama.

Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III, who is seeking reelection, is the local LP leader.

President Aquino will grace a pre-Labor Day job fair at 4:30 p.m. in the Mandaue City’s Sports Complex before joining the 5:30 p.m. rally in front of the Cebu Capitol.

Cebu, with its 2.7 million voters, is considered as one of the most important battlegrounds in the presidential elections on May 9.

Chief Superintendent Patrocinio Comendador Jr., Police Regional Office (PRO) director, said they have coordinated with the Armed Forces of the Philippines- Central Command (AFP-CentCom) based in Barangay Lahug, Cebu City and the Presidential Security Group for the security preparations for the presidential visit.

Comendador said the PRO 7 has also prepared a civil disturbance management team to secure order in case militant groups will hold protest rallies Wednesday.

He said officers were told to observe maximum tolerance.

Cebu City traffic officials have closed parts of Escario Street near the Cebu Capitol and Osmeña Blvd. starting at 1 p.m. Wednesday as part of security arrangements for the LP campaign rally. (PNA) LAP/EB/EDS