PDP Laban in Surigao City kicks off campaign sans push for Marcos Jr.
SURIGAO CITY, Philippines —Local allies of President Rodrigo Duterte in this capital of Surigao del Norte province kicked off their campaign with a notable exception: The push for the presidential bid of former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
On Friday, a motorcade moved around here, heavily loaded with tarpaulins that contain only the name and image of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, Marcos’ running mate.
Vice Mayor Ernesto Matugas Sr. explained that they cannot carry yet Duterte’s running mate “because we are still awaiting official decision from our political party.”
“We are just waiting for official confirmation. Whoever is endorsed by the party, we will follow,” added Matugas when told that the PDP Laban faction of Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi has already endorsed Marcos for president.
But Matugas admitted that the local political coalition is not unified on the national bets to support.
“We go our separate ways because some support (Sen. Manny) Pacquiao, others (Sen. Panfilo) Lacson,” he said.
In the case of Duterte, Matugas said they have been rooting for her even before she even declared interest in running for national office “because she has leadership … (and) she is from Mindanao.”
Matugas revealed that Surigao voters always identify with those from Mindanao, noting that even as they endorsed former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas for president in 2016, he did not win the vote here.
