Oops! After jumping ship, Salceda meets Aquino in Legazpi

Albay Gov. Joey Salceda. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO/NOY MORCOSO

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines—Almost two weeks after leaving the administration’s Liberal Party (LP) and withdrawing his support from its standard-bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, Albay Gov. Joey Salceda showed up at a bridge inauguration here on Thursday and met with President Benigno Aquino III.

Salceda, who left the LP to support Sen. Grace Poe, joined the President during a drive through  the Yawa Bridge here. The governor, who was wearing a white long-sleeved shirt, the campaign color of Poe, seemed to be the odd man out on board a pickup truck where he joined Aquino, Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson and Legazpi City Mayor Noel Rosal, who were all wearing yellow shirts, the administration’s signature color.

READ: Albay governor drops Mar, embraces Grace

Salceda, now running as an independent candidate in the second congressional district race in Albay, said he and Aquino  did not talk about his decision to support Poe instead of Roxas.

“We already talked about that last April,” said Salceda, Aquino’s classmate at the Ateneo de Manila University.

READ: Salceda: Roxas lacks empathy

In the 2010 elections, Salceda, then an ally of outgoing President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, bolted from the administration party, which was backing the candidacy of Gilberto Teodoro Jr., and supported the bid of then Senator Aquino of the LP, who would win the presidential race.

“I really wanted him (Aquino) to be happy in Albay. We had a very warm clasp of hands and I welcomed him as our own President,” Salceda told the Inquirer in a telephone interview after the bridge opening.

He said he and the President discussed some projects in Albay.

After the minute-long ride through the P87-million bridge that connects Maharlika Highway to the villages of Bonot and Rawis here, Aquino headed to San Roque village to inaugurate the Tibu River Pumping Station, a P335-million flood control project.

Rosal thanked Mr. Aquino for supporting all major projects in Legazpi City and Albay.

When asked, Rosal said LP members here respected Salceda’s decision to leave the administration party.

He said LP members in Albay would continue to support Roxas and the administration slate.

“I will carry the load for the second district of Albay [to ensure the administration candidates’ victory],” he said.

After having lunch with Camarines Sur Rep. Ma. Leonor “Leni” Robredo, LP’s vice presidential candidate, at the Crown Park Restaurant, Mr. Aquino mingled with the crowd at the Pacific Mall and distributed yellow ballers of LP candidates.

They then headed for Ligao City to attend a campaign rally. With reports from Shan Gabriel Apuli, Rexan Nuarin and Mary Jane de Guzman, Inquirer Southern Luzon interns/RAM/rga