PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte's supposed endorsement of Representative Jonas Cortes’s (Cebu, 6th district) candidacy for Mandaue City mayor does not bother Mayor Luigi Quisumbing, who is seeking reelection.
Duterte was scheduled to be in Mandaue City Tuesday night, October 30, to attend a political gathering organized by One Cebu-PDP-Laban, which Cortes attended. (The guests were still waiting for Duterte as of press time.)
The President was also scheduled to meet with local top police and military officials at the Central Command.
Quisumbing, in an interview Tuesday, said the President was also scheduled to meet with him, Vice Mayor Carlo Fortuna and other local leaders.
It was earlier reported that Duterte’s purpose for coming here was to meet with candidates of One Cebu-PDP-Laban to discuss next year’s midterm elections.
The activity was held at the Mandani Bay at the North Reclamation Area in Mandaue City.
Gubernatorial candidate and Third District Representative Gwen Garcia, along with the group’s candidates in the seven districts, hosted the event.
Among those who attended the event were Cebu City Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, Cortes and PDP-Laban allies in the different towns.
Labella is running for mayor against incumbent Tomas Osmeña; Cortes is running for mayor in Mandaue City against Quisumbing.
Quisumbing said he was not worried that Cortes was at the event and he was not.
“Well, I am also seeing the President tonight, so I don’t know any possible impact. Definitely, we are supportive of the President. He endorsed me during the Charter Day. Mayor Sarah endorsed me two weeks ago,” he said.
He clarified that he received a text message and a phone call from one of Duterte’s staff members that the President wanted to see him and Fortuna.
The mayor said he does not know who else will be in the meeting.
It was learned that part of Duterte’s itinerary in Cebu was a meeting with Police Regional Office-Central Visayas Director Debold Sinas and Lieutenant General Paul Atal, commander of the Central Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. (Fe Marie D. Dumaboc)