AKB launches grand rally as campaign period begins

The homegrown Bicolano partylist, the Ako Bicol launched the first salvo of campaign in its grand rally held at the Sawangan Park in Legazpi City on Friday evening as the campaign period for senatorial and partylist groups started.

The grand rally was featured by a concert led by its new ambassador actor Jericho Rosales who replaced the AKB’s original endorser veteran actor Eddie Garcia following his demise.

During the grand rally, Farida “Diday” Co, a vice gubernatorial candidate in Albay represented his elder brother Ako Bicol Partylist founder Elizaldy “Zaldy” S. Co.

The Ako Bicol was founded by Bicolano business tycoon Elizaldy “Zaldy” S. Co, of the Sunwest group of companies more than a decade ago after the occurrence of super typhoon Reming in 2006. Super typhoon Reming is the strongest typhoon that battered the Bicol Region specifically in Albay province 18 years ago.

Ako Bicol second nominee Lawyer Alfredo “Pido” Garbin, current mayor of Legazpi said that the AKB is pushing the tourism infrastructure projects, construction of cruise ship terminal, construction of the so-called legacy hospital currently being constructed within the compound of Bicol Regional Hospital Medical Center formerly the Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital.

Garbin said that for 15 years, have done so many developments in the Bicol Region and is pushing for more development which include the conversion of the 40,000 hectares old airport as a new economic zone.

Ako Bicol Rep. Jil Bongalon currently running as representative in the first district of Albay against Tabaco City Mayor Krisel Lagman was also present in the opening salvo of Ako Bicol grand rally.

The Ako Bicol partylist is one of the partylist groups identified by the Kontra Daya as not belonging to marginalized sectors and run by political clans, bigtime businessmen and political dynasties.

The grand rally of Ako Bicol was also a pre-campaigning of its political allies running for congressional post in the second district, gubernatorial, vice gubernatorial in the provincial posts, mayoral and councilmen posts in Legazpi City for the upcoming May 12 local polls.

Present during the AKB’s grand rally were outgoing second district Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda, running for gubernatorial post in Albay and running mate of Diday Co, younger sister of Rep. Zaldy Co, former AKB lawmaker Christopher Co, running for congressional post in the second district of Albay, Legazpi City mayoral candidate Hisham Ismael, his running mate councilor Luis Gutierez, vice mayoral candidate and the incumbent councilors seeking for reelection along with other aspirants.

At least six partylist groups from Bicol are wooing the more than 4 million Bicolano voters in the upcoming May 12, 2025 midterm polls here.

The existing partylist groups in Bicol were Ako Bicol; BHW; I-Rider; Bicol Saro; COOP Natco; Ang Probinsiyano and Agri-Partylist.  – BY RHAYDZ BARCIA