Neda post awaits Salceda if Duterte wins presidency

A Cabinet post awaits Albay Gov. Joey Salceda if Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte wins the presidency in May.

During a campaign sortie in Legazpi City on Friday, Duterte said he would appoint Salceda as secretary of the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda).

Salceda is a stalwart of the ruling Liberal Party, being one of its provincial chairs.

Duterte made the declaration while addressing the joint provincial development and disaster risk reduction and management councils at Oriental Hotel Legazpi.

He again mentioned his offer to Salceda during a speech before a gathering of Albay mayors, vice mayors, association of barangay captains’ presidents, police and military officials and other sectoral leaders at the hotel on Saturday.

Peter Laviña, Duterte’s spokesperson, said Salceda gave Duterte “a necklace adorned with chili pendant as a token and an Albay passport as a symbol of friendship.”

“‘To help make you win, mayor,’” Laviña said, quoting Salceda.

Duterte and Salceda are both members of the 11th Congress.

The mayor, however, made it clear politics had nothing to do with his visit.

“To pay a visit to Joey. We are friends,” Duterte was quoted as saying to justify his presence at the joint meeting presided by Salceda.