MISAMIS Oriental Governor Yevgeny "Bambi" Emano on Monday, March 4, said Presidential daughter, and Davao City Mayor, Sara Duterte-Carpio is set to endorse his re-election bid for the third and final term as governor including the Padayon Pilipino ticket in the province on April 5.
Emano said the Sara's Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) regional party will also bring the 13 senatorial slate during the scheduled campaign sorties in the province.
The Emano-led Padayon Pilipino local party has already forged coalition with the HNP last year.
"Our endorsement will come from Sara Duterte sa HNP so we will wait on April 5 because the HNP will also bring 13 candidates under the HNP slate," Emano said.
The governor said there will be two rallies to be scheduled in Cagayan de Oro and Gingoog City on April.
However, Emano revealed that the local party may not be able to support HNP's 13 senatorial bets because the Padayon founder, former Cagayan de Oro City mayor Vicente "Dongkoy" Emano wants to support one more senatorial aspirant.
"Initial discussion dili tanan masuportahan ang 13 kay si mayor Dongkoy posible dal-on si Neri Colmenares (Not all 13 can be supported because mayor Dongkoy might possibly include Neri Colmenares)," the younger Emano said.
Colmenares belongs to the Makabayan bloc, where he was a former representative for Bayan Muna partylist. The group has been accused by critics as communist front, allegedly allied with the Communist Party of the Philippines, National Democratic Front of the Philippines, and its armed wing, the New People’s Army. Makabayan is consistent denying these claims.
Meanwhile, Emano also said he would ask the allied senatorial candidates to prioritize the completion of water system in the entire province and turning the Laguindingan airport into an international airport when they get a seat in the Senate.
Emano led the meeting of two allied senatorial bets, Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go and former Philippine National Philippines chief Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa with local leaders and supporters over the weekend.