DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 21 November) — “Sometimes in our lives, we find ourselves to be a leader but sometimes in our lives, we need to stand beside another leader,” Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte said as she explained to the crowd of supporters in Tagum City, Davao del Norte, on Sunday, why she opted to run for Vice President and why she chose former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. as her Presidential candidate.
Photo from Mayor Inday Sara Duterte official Facebook page
The mayor said Marcos is qualified having served as Governor, Congressman and Senator.
Marcos led the crowd in chanting “Bongbong-Sara, Bongbong-Sara” during the “UniTeam” caravan of Bong-bong Sara, declaring that the caravans across the country are “naiiba” (different) because “dito nagsimula ang pagbabago, dito nagsimula ang pagkakaisang muli ng Pilipians” (this is where change begins, this is where the Philippines will unite once again.
Marcos and running mate Sara Duterte spoke before a crowd during their “Red Day UniTeam Caravan” in Tagum City.
Davao de Oro governor Jayvee Tyron Uy, who is a co-founder of Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) posted on social media a selfie, showing Marcos and Duterte standing on the stage together before a crowd of supporters.
“It is my great pride and honor to give the introduction of our next Vice President of the Republic of the Philippines, Mayor Inday Sara Duterte during their first #UniTeam visitation in Tagum City, Davao del Norte! I take pride as one of the witnesses of this historic event,” Uy said.
Marcos, son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr., is running under Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), which adopted Duterte as his running mate shortly after the presidential daughter filed her candidacy for Vice President under Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, as a substitute candidate.
President Rodrigo Duterte, who filed his candidacy for senator instead of Vice President on November 15, the last day for filing of certificates of candidacy for substitution, wondered why his daughter filed her COC for Vice President when she is the frontrunner in surveys on Presidential candidates. He said this was likely the decision of Marcos, whom he criticized to be a “weak leader.”
The President is supporting the candidacy of his long-time aide, Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go who withdrew from the Vice Presidential race after Sara Duterte filed her COC for the same post. Go, however, filed his COC for President under the Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan (PDDS).
Davao del Norte is the province of Anthony del Rosario, Secretary-General of the regional party, Hugpong ng Pagbabago which was headed by Mayor Duterte until she resigned to join Lakas-CMD to run for Vice President. She, however, rejoined HnP a few days later.
It is also the province of Marcos’ ally, Antonio Floirendo, whose father Antonio Sr., was referred ot as among the cronies of Marcos’ father, Ferdinand, who was ousted by People Power in 1986. (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)
