Mayor proclaims senatorial lineup

DAVAO City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte formally proclaimed his choice candidates for the May 10 polls before his constituents on Friday evening.

Surprisingly though, the mayor did not declare support on any of the presidentiables while his "senatorial lineup" is a mix of candidates from four major political parties.

Before a crowd of more than 10,000 Dabawenyos, Duterte raised the hands of senatorial candidates Pia Cayetano, Gwen Pimentel, and Bongbong Marcos of the Nacionalista Party; Bebot Bello of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD; Franklin Drilon of the Liberal Party; Juan Ponce Enrile and Jinggoy Estrada of the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino; and independent candidate Tito Sotto.

Duterte also endorsed the candidacy of Lakas senatorial bets Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Ramon "Bong" Revilla, who was represented by actor Philip Salvador; and Liza Maza and Satur Ocampo of Nacionalista.

The mayor, however, stopped short from proclaiming his choice presidential bet.

A few months ago, Duterte declared his choice for a vice presidentiable in the person of Liberal Party bet Mar Roxas.

Duterte's chief aide, Lawrence "Bong" Go, however, said the mayor will be declaring his presidential bet anytime soon.

From 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., hundreds of voters and spectators came to watch the ceremony. Some of them were there since morning and stayed despite the heat and rain.

Senatoriables and showbiz stars also graced the event.

Councilors

Incumbent Councilor Maria Belen Sunga Acosta will run for a congressional seat in the first district.

Under the set of candidates for the council, in the same district, are: former city administrator Wendel Avisado, former city legal officer J. Melchor Quitain, Bayan Muna leader Jose Joel Virador, Leah Librado, Edgar Ibuyan, Nilo “Small” Abellera, Emmanuel Galicia, and William Ramirez.

For the second district, Mylene Garcia will run as congresswoman. For the set of councilors, the mayor presented 16 candidates.

"Kamo na lang pili ani sa ilaha basta kini sila puro ni maayo (You have the liberty to choose among them but they are all good)," Duterte said.

The second district council candidates are Dante Apostol, Louie John Bonguyan, Arnold Ricardo Cabling, and Tomas Monteverde IV who are incumbent councilors; Micheal "Mickey" Aportadera, Leonardo Miguel Aquino, Marissa Salvador-Abella, Al Ryan Alejandre, Ernie Alterado, Gerald Anthony Bangoy, former Bayan Muna congressman Ariel Casilao, former Sangguniang Kabataan president April Marie Dayap, Dino Ferdinand Galido, Lito Lapitan, Jojie Jude Lumanog, and Nenita Orcullo.

For the third district, incumbent Congressman Isidro Ungab will run for the same position.

For the council candidates are Victorio Advincula Jr., Magno Adalin Jr. Bernard Al-ag, and incumbent Councilors Conrado Baluran, Karlo Bello, Myrna Dalodo-Ortiz, Jose Louie Villafuerte, and Rachel Zozobrado.

Duterte earlier said that choosing Hugpong's lineup provided him difficulty.

"They are all people na may utang na loob ako o utang na loob sa kanilang mga pamilya. It was like being torn between two lovers," Duterte said Thursday in an interview at Marco Polo Hotel, where he signed as witness to a compromised agreement between Davao City Water District and Hedcor.

It was also noticeable that even though they weren't announced as under the Hugpong lineup, they still attended the event in support of Duterte and Hugpong, such as second district congressional candidate Diosdado Mahipus, incumbent councilor.

As for the presidential candidate, Vice Mayor Sarah Duterte said the mayor just might be a yellow supporter.

"Naa koy ako, naa siya'y iyaha. Noy-noy man siguro na siya," she said after the event, referring to Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino Jr.

Unity walk

Before going to the proclamation venue held at Rizal Park in Davao City, Duterte and his daughter mayoral candidate Sara Duterte, along with the senatoriables and local candidates, marched their way from the nearby Grand Men Seng Hotel in what they termed as "unity walk.”

The mayor also presented to the crowd his choice of local candidates composed mostly of his local political party Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod.

All are united in giving their support to the Duterte-Duterte tandem for the mayor and vice mayor positions.

The Dutertes are running against the tandem of House Speaker Prospero Nograles and former mayor Benjamin de Guzman. (BOT)

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