A lawmaker from the Bicol Region on Thursday endorsed the vice-presidential candidacy of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.
At the same time, Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda said he will support the candidacy of Vice President Leni Robredo for President.
“I have long followed and studied their track record in public service, especially good governance and management style. Both VP Leni and Mayor Sara are known for judicious and effective use of public resources in the offices and agencies they presided over. That will be very crucial given our post-pandemic fiscal space,” said Salceda, the resident economist of the House of Representatives.
Meanwhile, Duterte, chairman of the Lakas Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD), expressed hope she will get a chance to personally speak with her father, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, during upcoming family occasions.
“Hindi pa kami nagkausap ni President Duterte but in time, I expect that we will see each other if not after the campaign, baka during the campaign dahil may mga birthdays sa family during March and April. So baka magkita kami doon sa events na ‘yun,” Mayor Duterte said during an interview with journalists in Sta. Maria, Bulacan.
Among the events the Lakas-CMD chairperson was presumably referring to was March 28, when President Duterte celebrates his 77th birthday.
Asked if she would seek President Duterte’s support for Marcos once they meet, Mayor Duterte said that’s exactly what she would want to see.
“Well yes of course ‘yan ang gusto naming lahat no, na makita yung suporta ni Pangulong Duterte para sa UniTeam. But of course he is the President and he is allowed to do and say kung ano yung gusto niya. And we will respect his decision,” Duterte said.
Salceda, chairman of the House committee on ways and means added: “Both being long-time friends of mine, I have also studied their plans for the people, for our nation-state, and for the future. Their visions actually cohere significantly, especially in economic development.”
Salceda also stressed “Leni-Sara” is not a hostile combination as some would suggest.
“These two were friends, who can work together if they both win. In 2015, Mayor Sara and then Congresswoman Leni even went out together on a casual meal while their presidential candidates were duking it out. Both are professionals. Both are obsessed with delivering positive results for the people.”
He added that Robredo and Duterte “both inspire investor confidence.”
“In other words, people with the capital and confidence this country needs to feel optimistic about our prospects with VP Leni and Mayor Sara,” he said.
Duterte on Thursday afternoon said she is thankful for declarations of support from political friends, be it solely for her or for the BBM-Sara UniTeam tandem.
“Napag-usapan na namin yan ni Apo BBM na either of us will not refuse endorsements whether individually or collectively at nagpapasalamat po tayo sa lahat ng mga kaibigan at supporters natin sa buong bansa,” Duterte said during an interview with journalists Thursday afternoon in Meycauyan, Bulacan.
A few hours before Salceda’s endorsement, Duterte said Thursday in Sta. Maria, Bulacan, that she would continue to be friends with the Bicol lawmaker.
“Susuportahan natin si Cong. Joey Salceda sa kung ano man ‘yung direction niya in politics. He is a friend, may pulitika man o wala,” Duterte said.
“In fact, noon dumaan kami sa Albay, he was out there waiting for us, unfortunately hindi namin alam saan na parte doon sa nadaanan namin ang kanyang bahay. And I also left a thank you video para sa kanya doon sa Albay,” Duterte added.
The “Mahalin natin ang Pilipinas” ride of Duterte made rounds in Bicol last week.
Referring to Salceda, Duterte said, “Of course I’ll see him again dahil mayroon na kaming schedule na dapat bumalik kami doon sa Albay.”
The lady mayor is busy on the campaign trail ahead of the May 9, 2022 elections.
She leads the BBM-Sara UniTeam ticket along with Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) standard-bearer, former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
Marcos is the frontrunner in all pre-election surveys for the presidency.
Meanwhile, Duterte was in town in Sta. Maria, Thursday to visit Dhely Borja, 70, an avid supporter.
The elderly woman is a cancer patient, and thus was unable to attend the BBM-Sara UniTeam campaign launch at the Philippine Arena last February 8.
Duterte said Borja’s daughter sent a private message to the Davao official’s staff and asked if they could pay her ailing mother a visit.
Reacting to her special visitor, Borja said: “Nawala yung kirot sa saya, tuwang tuwa po ako.”
Later Thursday afternoon in Meycauyan City, Bulacan, Meycauayan City Mayor Linabelle Ruth Villarica and Bulacan 4th District Rep. Henry Resurreccion Villarica both endorsed Duterte’s vice presidential bid.
They both assured her of the city’s all out support on election day.
Duterte thanked the couple for their pronouncement as well as for personally welcoming her at the city hall.
