FILE PHOTOS From left, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, President Rodrigo Duterte, and Senator Christopher “Bong” Go.
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte endorsed the tandem of his long-time aide, presidential aspirant Senator Bong Go, and his daughter vice Davao City mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio for president and vice president, respectively, during a meeting with lawmakers in Malacañang Tuesday night.
Diwa Party-list Rep. Michael Edgar Aglipay, who was present during the meeting, said on Wednesday that about 95 other members of the House of Representatives were present, including Speaker Lord Allan Jay Velasco when they heard the President’s pronouncements.
“Si Pangulo, mabilis lang nagsalita, na ang ine-endorse ang Bong Go-Sara Duterte tandem,” he said in an interview with reporters.
(The President spoke quickly. He said he endorses the Bong Go-Sara tandem.)
Notably, House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez and other members under political party Lakas-CMD were not present during the meeting. Romualdez is the cousin of presidential aspirant and former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. who will be running in tandem with the presidential daughter for the 2022 elections under the so-called “UniTeam.”
On the other hand, Duterte-Carpio is vying for the vice presidency under Lakas-CMD.
Meanwhile Go, like Duterte, abandoned their party PDP-Laban to run under the Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan (PDDS) for president.