By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

An estimated 50,000 people attended yesterday’s PDP-Laban campaign rally in Victorias City.
Incumbent Negros Occidental third district Congressman Alfredo Benitez said, in order to accommodate the huge crowd, they setup a giant monitor screen and makeshift stage at an adjacent open field.
The outgoing congressman said the Victorias City Coliseum accommodated at least 15,000, while the rest gathered in the open field.
Security was also tight with members of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office and Presidential Security Group (PSG) barring the entry of liquids, umbrellas, and sharp objects.
Benitez said, because of the setup, some senators requested to give additional addresses to those gathered in the open field.
However, for security reasons, PSG did not allow the request.
Among the senatorial candidates who attended the rally included former Department of the Interior and Local Government secretary Rafael Alunan III; former Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go; incumbent Maguindanao second district Congressman Zajid Mangudadatu; incumbent Taguig City Lone District Congresswoman Pia Cayetano; retired Philippine National Police Director General Ronald ‘Bato’ Dela Rosa; and incumbent Senators Cynthia Villar and Aquilino ‘Koko’ Pimentel III./DGB, WDJ