CAGAYAN de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno on Monday, January 28, brushed off President Rodrigo Duterte's endorsement of Pompee La Viña's mayoral bid, saying it was an act of "utang na loob" (debt of gratitude) for the latter's role in Duterte's campaign run then.

Moreno said Duterte's endorsement of 2nd district congressional candidate Alam Lim was for him, "sincere and important" since congressmen need the support of the president.

"Kining kang Pompee, of course nakita nato nga grabe gyud iyang paningkamot to reaffirm that he is with the President, pero he did raise the hand of Pompee but not in the stage, duol sa kasilyas," Moreno said.

"Ang akong tan-aw, kanang iyang pag-endorse kang Pompee, according to a reliable source, utang kabubut-on kana, tungod sa role ni Pompee sa presidential elections," he added.

Moreno said La Viña's role in the presidential elections was "the destroyer", as what he is doing now in the local level.

But Moreno said he remains unaffected by the black propaganda he is facing, saying that it may have worked in the national level, but he is confident that this strategy will fail here.

La Viña for his part dismissed Moreno's statement, and instead said the mayor should mind his cases.

"Do not worry. Hangyoon nato ang Presidente mo-balik para makasabot gyud siya. Basig gusto niya sa TV na niya madunggan ang ingon sa Presidente sa mga kapitan, nga kawatan siya ug angay na gyud ilisan," he said.