Eastern Samar Gov. Ben Evardone, the vice president of PDP-Laban for Visayas, on Monday backed Vice President Leni Robredo’s presidential bid.
Evardone said President Rodrigo Duterte has “virtually endorsed” Robredo when the latter bared his wishlist for his successor.
Duterte said the next president must be compassionate and decisive, and should be a mayor or lawyer like him.
“I’m not saying it’s the best quality, but one of the good qualities of a president, I hope [the next president] will be a lawyer. If you are a lawyer, you could make prompt decisions and know the repercussions,” the President said.
Of the 10 presidential hopefuls, Francisco “Isko Moreno” has served as Manila City mayor, while Robredo and Dr. Jose Montemayor Jr. are both lawyers.
“We welcome and support the high bar President Duterte has set for his successor. He knows whereof he speaks, and we understand it. It is the same standard with which he tries to measure himself in governing the nation,” Evardone said.
“For me and for millions of Filipinos, there is only one decisive and compassionate lawyer among those aspiring to be President and she is VP Leni,” the governor added.
He, however, did not say if he would also support Robredo’s running mate, Senator Francis Pangilinan.“VP Leni has been very consistent on her pro-poor programs and advocacies. She has gone to far-flung barangays in the country to deliver services and listen to the cry of the marginalized sectors of our society,” Evardone said.
