Former Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III responds to a question during a press conference in Carmen, Davao del Norte (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

CARMEN, Davao del Norte--Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial candidates were unfazed by the supposedly daunting task of getting votes in "Duterte territory", with at least one of them downplaying the impact of bailiwick politics in a Senate race.

Liking Alyansa's chances in Mindanao were administration bets former Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III, former senator Manny Pacquiao, and House Deputy Majority Leader ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo.

In a press conference here Saturday, Feb. 15 before Alyansa's scheduled first big rally in Mindanao here at the Carmen Municipal Park and Plaza, Sotto said: "Ako, tingin ko sa Alyansa, maganda ang chances, maganda ang chances dito sa Mindanao (For me, Alyansa has good chances, it has good chances here in Mindanao)."

"I'm not saying that we will win or all of us will win, but I'm saying that lahat kami maganda ang chances namin (we all have good chances), taken Mindanao as a whole," added Sotto, who boasted of his prior experience as campaign manager of two national campaign efforts since 1992.

Mindanao or the southern part of the Philippines is viewed as bailiwick of the Duterte family--arguably the biggest critic of the Marcos administration.

Citing his vast campaign experience, Sotto claimed the voter preference can change during the course of the campaign period. "Tignan niyo yung records, pagdating ng campaign period, nagbabago oras na lumalabas na yung kandidato (Check the records, during then campaign period, things change once the candidates start to make their rounds)."

For example, he said their fellow Alyansa bet Benhur Abalos, a former Mandaluyong City mayor, could start off as a weak candidate in General Santos City in Mindanao. But once Pacquiao--who hails from the city--endorses him, Abalos would likely become more preferred by locals.

Asked on how the Alyansa bets would respond to the Duterte loyalists in Mindanao, Pacquiao said: "Hindi kami nababahala dahil adbokasiya namin ang makatulong sa bayan (We're not worried because our advocacy is to help the nation)."

"Gusto talaga namin ng pagbabago, pagbabago ng ekonomiya, pagbabago ng pamumuhay ng bawat Pilipino at umunlad ang kanilang pamumuhay. Yun po ang aking hangad sa ating bansa," said the boxing icon-turned-politician.

(We really want change, change in the economy, change in the lives of each Filipino so they may become more prosperous. That's my desire for then country.)

Winning formula

Sotto went on to share a tried and tested formula for winning in a Senate race like the one that would be held on May 12.

"As far as balwarte (bailiwick) is concerned, let me be very frank ha. Senatorial [race] ito, take 12 eh (This is a senatorial race where 12 candidates will win).You get 35 percent of the votes nationwide, you win. 100 percent you will win the top 12. Yun ang technique dyan (That's the technique for it)," he said.

"So getting 35 percent from Mindanao? That's a big thing already, you don't need that much. You need 35 percent nationwide," the ex-Senate leader underscored.

"So balwarte-balwarte usapin, if one-on-one ang pinag-uusapan, mabigat ang mga may balwarte. Pero take 12? (So as far as bailiwicks are concerned, yes they're a big factor if it's a one-on-one fight. But take 12 winners?)

"The technique is to get 35 percent of the people to realize who you are, and what you going to do for them. And what you can do for them," explained Sotto.

For his part, Tulfo--a consistent topnotcher in pre-election surveys--said the people's reception of him here "surprised" him, given the territory.

"Nag-motorcade kami, OK naman ang reception ng mga tao lalo na sa Davao City (We held a motorcade, the people's reception was OK especially from Davao City). I wasn't expecting that. I was expecting na hindi ka papansinin (I was expecting that they would ignore me), something like that. Pero different eh (But it's different). So I was kinda surprised," he said.

At any rate, Tulfo said he was no stranger to Davao since he frequented the city especially during his tenure as Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) secretary.

Tulfo says Alyansa bets are out to help everyone regardless of potlical color or leanings.

"Nasabihan din po kami sa Alyansa na wag titingin po sa kulay. Wag lang green, wag lang red, white--whatever the color is (Here in Alyansa, we've been told not to look at political colors. We will help not just green, red, or white--whatever the color is)."