President Rodrigo Roa Duterte expressed his all-out support for Salvador Panelo, the former chief legal counsel and Palace spokesperson who is running for the Senate.
In a video posted on social media, the President said that a Panelo victory “in the Senate will greatly help the country.”
“He is a good man, he talks of nothing except for the good of the country. He has the intelligence and the capacity,” Duterte, said as he urged the public to vote for Panelo.
The President was endorsing Panelo for the third time. He first expressed his support for the lawyer’s candidacy last June, even before the filing of certificates of candidacy.
During his “Talk to the People” briefing, Duterte said Panelo is his “favorite Senatorial candidate,” admiring his intelligence and loyalty.
Last September, the President also appealed to the public to help get Panelo elected to the Senate in the May 9 elections.
Despite being seemingly at odds in politics, the President and his daughter, Davao City Mayor ‘Inday’ Sara Duterte, agree on fully supporting Panelo.
At the UniTeam’s grand rally at the Philippine Arena last February 8, the 2022 vice-presidential candidate named Panelo as one of the candidates she will support in the Senate race.
Sara Duterte first expressed her support for the former Cabinet member on her program “Sara All For You” last February 2.
Panelo, who is running under the PDP-Laban banner, said he is thankful for the support of the Dutertes, adding that he intends to continue the President’s brand of leadership.
“It is a great honor for me to have been given the trust and support of the Duterte family. They can rest assured that I will continue in the Senate the ‘tapang at malasakit’ brand of public service that President Duterte initiated,” Panelo said.
He added: “I wholeheartedly support Mayor Sara, in the same manner that I supported her father—even if we belong to different parties. I am overjoyed that Mayor Sara has endorsed me even though I am not part of the UniTeam.”
Regarding who he will support for President, Panelo said he is still waiting for President Duterte’s advice on who the party will support.
If the President does not choose a candidate, Panelo said that he believes unity is needed to bring the country forward, and as such, he will work with whoever the country elects as President.