Northern Samar Gov. Edwin Ongchuan (left) and Vice President Leni Robredo (FILE PHOTO)
CATARMAN, Northern Samar––Another governor in Eastern Visayas–a bailiwick of presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.–has decided to support the presidential bid of Vice President Leni Robredo.
Northern Samar Gov. Edwin Ongchuan said his decision to endorse Robredo came after he consulted local officials and other sectors of the province, which has a voting population of 453,620 for the 2022 elections.
“In consultation with our local leaders – municipal mayors, provincial and barangay officials, sectoral heads, it came to our collective discernment that the candidate who best fits the qualities (of becoming a president) is VP Leni Robredo,” Ongchuan said in a statement.
“With her kind of leadership, we believe that VP Leni will be beside us in our efforts for sustained progress. Hence, we express our wholehearted support to VP Leni,” he added.
Onchuan’s decision has the support of the majority of the province’s 24 town mayors and members of the provincial board.
The governor, who is the provincial chairman of the National Unity Party, said Robredo possesses the qualities President Duterte wants of his successor.
President Duterte, who is to step down at noon of June 30, 2022, recently said he wanted his successor to be compassionate, decisive, and a lawyer.
Mayor Joey Suan of Allen town and the “Team Rosales” of the father and son tandem of Mayor Francisco “Jun” Rosales Jr. and Francisco “Antet” Rosales III in Catarman were among the municipal mayors in the province who support Robredo.
Several youth groups have also organized the Youth for Leni teams in different Northern Samar towns.
Ongchuan is running for reelection as governor and is supported by three congressional candidates in the first district, including Rep. Paul Daza from the first district.
Ongchuan is the fourth governor in the Visayas, who decided to support Robredo. Last Monday, March 14, Eastern Samar Gov. Ben Evardone endorsed Robredo for president.
Aside from Ongchuan and Evardone, the other Visayas governors who endorsed Robredo were Eugenio Jose Lacson of Negros Occidental and Arthur Defensor of Iloilo.