MANILA, Philippines — Aspiring vice president Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio on Wednesday held a “simple meet-and-greet” with nine of 17 Metro Manila chief executives and other local government officials.
According to Duterte-Carpio’s regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) on Thursday, the mayors had lunch with President Rodrigo Duterte’s daughter at a hotel in Ortigas.
LOOK: 9 NCR mayors met with VP bet Sara Duterte-Carpio on Wednesday, Dec. 8 (📷:HNP) @inquirerdotnet pic.twitter.com/TPd5A5O5pO
— Daphne Galvez (@DYGalvezINQ) December 9, 2021
Present during the meet-and-greet were Mayors Edwin Olivarez of Parañaque, Oca Malapitan of Caloocan, Francis Zamora of San Juan, Toby Tiangco of Navotas, Marcy Teodoro of Marikina, Rex Gatchalian of Valenzuela, Emi Calixto-Rubiao of Pasay, Menchie Abalos of Mandaluyong, and Abby Binay of Makati.
Las Piñas City Vice Mayor April Aguilar, Pasig City Vice Mayor Iyo Caruncho Bernardo, and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Benhur Abalos also attended the event.
“Maraming salamat po sa inyong suporta at pagkakaibigan,” states Duterte-Carpio’s caption to a photo she posted on Facebook, showing her with the Metro Manila local officials.
In a chance interview on Thursday, Duterte-Carpio said the mayors vowed to help her in her 2022 vice presidential bid.
“Well, yes, oo. In general, nagsabi sila na they will help me doon sa kanilang mga lungsod,” she said when asked if her fellow local chief executives assured her of their support to her candidacy.
Before meeting with the mayors on Wednesday, Duterte-Carpio was at a motorcade with her running mate, presidential aspirant Ferdinand Marcos Jr., along Commonwealth Avenue and Quezon Avenue in Quezon City
The motorcade drew flak for causing heavy traffic along a major thoroughfare in the city.
The camp of Marcos Jr. has since apologized.
The Quezon City government has claimed the organizers of the event refused to coordinate with the local government.