Thanksgiving Rally to Mark Pamela Baricuatro’s Stunning Victory
CEBU CITY – A grand thanksgiving and victory rally will take place on June 29, a day before Pamela Baricuatro officially assumes office as the new governor of Cebu province. The event will celebrate the stunning victory of Pamela Baricuatro and highlight the success of the senatorial candidates who ran under the slate of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Jun Abines, co-lead organizer from the Duterte Diehard Supporters (DDS) group, shared that the rally will focus on thanking the Cebuanos for their overwhelming support of both Governor Baricuatro and the Duterte-aligned candidates. “The event will be anchored on thanking the Cebuanos for supporting Gov. Pamela and the Duterte candidates,” Abines said during a press briefing.
Rally Plans and Expected Attendance
While permits are still being secured, organizers expect the rally to be held near the Provincial Capitol. Ian Gacrama, head organizer, expects between 10,000 to 12,000 attendees. He also mentioned that both winning and losing candidates from Duterte’s Partido Demokratiko Pilipino will be invited to join the celebration.
Vice President Sara Duterte and members of the Duterte family are also expected to attend, according to Abines. He emphasized that the gathering aims to promote unity and open its doors to everyone in Cebu province.
Support from Notable Figures
Former Audit and Elections Commissioner Rowena Guanzon, a known critic of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, will also attend. Guanzon shared a personal connection with Baricuatro, saying, “She is a fellow alumna at Harvard Kennedy School of Government.”
Guanzon expressed her commitment to support Baricuatro’s governance. “I can give her ideas about local governance. I taught government and election laws. I can give her my thoughts on the Local Government Code, being a former mayor for six years,” she said.
Election Results and Controversy
Baricuatro’s stunning victory was marked by an impressive 1,107,924 votes, defeating incumbent Garcia, who sought a sixth term but only secured 765,051 votes. Garcia has since filed an election protest with the Commission on Elections, alleging irregularities in over 4,100 clustered precincts.
The event promises to be a significant moment for Cebu, celebrating both political victory and community unity.
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