BY IME SORNITO AND DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BANAGA
ILOILO City – Four governors in Region 6 support the possible vice presidential bid of President Rodrigo Duterte in the upcoming May 9, 2022 elections.
They were Antique’s Rhodora Cadiao, Capiz’s Esteban Contreras, Aklan’s Florencio Miraflores and Guimaras’ Samuel Gumarin.
Their support was indicated in a PDP-Laban press statement released Friday afternoon.
A total of 40 governors in the country manifested support for Duterte’s possible candidacy.
Iloilo’s Arthur Defensor Jr. and Negros Occidental’s Eugenio Jose Lacson were not in the list.
“We laud and support President Duterte’s decision to accept the offer of the administration PDP-Laban party to run for Vice President in next year’s elections,” part of the statement read.
“As Vice President, President Duterte could influence his successor to pursue his war on drugs, his Build, Build, Build infrastructure plan, projects for the poor, and his post-COVID 19 pandemic economic recovery roadmap, among other programs,” it added.
It concluded: “We hope and pray that the next President and President Duterte as his Vice President could work together in making life better for our people.”
DEFENSOR
When Panay News reached Defensor about the press release, the governor said, “I am just waiting for the national convention.”
He was referring to the PDP-Laban national convention on Sept. 8 where there will be an official nomination for the candidates of the party.
Defensor is a member of PDP-Laban.
In an earlier interview, Defensor said the situation is still fluid.
“Ang pagpadalagan ni Presidente may resolution na ina ang partido sang nagligad pa. Madamo sang pronouncements. Bisan ako I cannot give track right now kay madamo sang obra. So, I will wait for the convention kay dira gid man na mahalin tanan,” Defensor told Panay News.
On July 2021, Defensor was one of the governors who signed a collective statement urging Duterte to seek the vice presidency.
LACSON
On the other hand, Lacson said they are yet to reveal their bets for President and Vice President – and it would be during the filing of the certificates of candidacy in October.
“By that time we will definitely determine who the candidates are. Along with Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer, that’s the time that we will reveal who we are going to support,” Lacson said.
Lacson is a member of the Nationalist People’s Coalition.
Earlier, Lacson backed the idea brought up by several politicians that the Supreme Court (SC) should review whether or not it is constitutional for Duterte to run for vice president.
According to Lacson, from what he had read, some politicians are planning to question Duterte’s plans to the SC.
Lacson said while an incumbent president cannot run for re-election, he can still run for another lower post, which includes vice president.
“But the question is in case of a vacancy at Malacañang, can a vice president Duterte take over the position?” Lacson said./PN
