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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Sila yung pinaka-quailfied': Alyansa bets ask voters to carry Abalos, Tolentino into 'Magic 12'

'Sila yung pinaka-quailfied': Alyansa bets ask voters to carry Abalos, Tolentino into 'Magic 12'

Published Apr 25, 2025 08:49 am

At A Glance

  • The administration-backed Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas made it most direct appeal yet to voters Friday, April 25 to support the senatorial candidacies of Benhur Abalos and reelectionist Senator Francis "Tol" Tolentino.
  • Abalos and Tolentino are outside the winners' circle as far as pre-election surveys on the Senate race are concerned. 

20250425_160738.jpgBenhur Abalos (left), Senator Francis "Tol" Tolentino (Facebook)

DAGUPAN CITY, Pangasinan--The administration-backed Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas made it most direct appeal yet to voters Friday, April 25 to support two outliers from the winners' circle as far as pre-election surveys on the Senate race are concerned.

Gaining glowing endorsements from their Alyansa peers were former Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) secretary Benhur Abalos and reelectionist Senate Majority Leader Francis "Tol" Tolentino.

In a press conference here, fellow senatorial aspirant ACT-CiS Party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo attested to the capabilities of Abalos and Tolentino.

"Doon po sa mga botante natin, I am asking your help. kung iboboto niyo po si Erwin Tulfo, [top] one, two, three does not matter anymore. Please pakisama niyo na lang po si Benhur Abalos, and si Senator Tolentino.," he said.

(To our voters, I am asking your help. If you're going to vote for Erwin Tulfo, [top] one, two, three does not matter anymore. Please include Benhur Abalos and Senator Tolentino in your ballots.)

"We need their help, magagaling po. Baka kung sinu-sino ang isaksak natin diyan na wala naman pong alam. Mahirap naman ho baka sabihin niyo sayang ang boto. Dito sa dalawa I will vouch for you na hindi masasayang ang boto. I promise. Maraming salamat po," added the broadcaster-turned-congressman.

(We need their help, they're good. We might end up including random people there who don't know anything. It would be unfortunate if you just waste your votes. For these two, I will vouch for you that your votes won't get wasted. I promise. Maraming salamat po (Thank you very much.)

Until very recently, Tulfo was the topnotcher in the surveys.

Another Alyansa bet, former senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson, agreed with Tulfo that it would be a total "waste of votes" if Filipinos don't support Abalos and Tolentino on May 12.

"Silang dalawa, pinag-usapan na natin. Sila yung pinaka-quailfied eh, di ba? Sayang talaga, sayang. Sabihin natin sa mga kababayan natin, sayang yung boto kapag hindi sila nasama (We've talked about the two. They're the most qualified, aren't they? It would be a real waste, a waste. I tell my countrymen, it would be a waste of votes if they don't get it)," he said.

Lacson has been a mainstay within the winners' circle or the so-called "Magic 12" during the entire campaign period.

Former Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III also chimed in: Aba’y kailangang-kailangan natin si Senator Tolentino doon, kasama si Senator Abalos at kaming lahat na naririto ngayon. So, hopefully madagdagan pa ‘yong nakikita mo na maaring kami ay ika nga manalo sa May 12.

(Well we really need Senator Tolentino there, together with Senator Abalos, and all of us that are here right now. So, hopefully there would be more winnable candidates among us on May 12.)

Related Tags

panfilo ping lacson Erwin Tulfo francis tol Tolentino Benhur Abalos Matalinong boto 2025 Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas
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