Velasco to back Sara Duterte if she runs for president

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio speaks with survivors of the C-130 military plane crash, as she is joined by Speaker Lord Allan Velasco during her visit to Camp Navarro General Hospital in Zamboanga City on Thursday, July 15. Also in photo is Zamboanga City 1st District Rep. Cesar “Jawo” Jimenez Jr. PHOTO FROM THE OFFICE OF THE SPEAKER

MANILA, Philippines — House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco said Thursday he would give his  “all-out and unconditional support” for Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio should she decide to run for president in the elections next year.

Velasco, a known close ally of the Davao City mayor, said Duterte-Carpio is “very qualified to be the country’s next president” and can “unify us and lead us forward.”

“I will support her (Duterte-Carpio) all the way,” Velasco said during Duterte-Carpio’s trip to Zamboanga City for the signing of the sister city agreement between Davao and Zamboanga, and to visit the survivors of the recent C-130 plane crash.

“I am more than glad to hear that she’s open to run for president in the 2022 elections,” the House Speaker added.

In the latest Pulse Asia survey, Duterte-Carpio topped the list of the most preferred candidate for president, with 28 percent of the respondents voting for her if elections were to be held on the day they were interviewed.

Placing second on the list is Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso (14 percent) while former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr, was on third at 13 percent.

Duterte-Carpio recently expressed her openness to run for president but said that she has yet to make a final decision.

/MUF