ASPIRING Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Jose Gabriel “Pompee” La Viña over the weekend said the support of President Rodrigo Duterte and his daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio to his mayoral bid is a huge factor in attracting voters in the upcoming May polls.
La Viña’s hand was raised by the presidential daughter as a sign of endorsement during the senatorial campaign caravan of the Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) at the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (USTP) gymnasium Friday, April 5.
All candidates’ hands under the opposition ticket Padayon Pilipino Centrist Democratic Party (CDP) coalition were also raised by the HNP founding chair. Padayon Pilipino is an allied party of HNP.
La Viña said the endorsement of the Dutertes to his candidacy has benefited him as evidenced by the support he has been receiving during their campaign sorties and hand-shaking in the villages.
The challenger of reelectionist Mayor Oscar Moreno also said the machinery of Padayon Pilipino and CDP in the city remains intact.
La Viña is convinced that the Kagay-anon has been wanting change which prompted him to bring and banner the slogan “Bag-ong Cagayan.”
La Viña has reiterated that he has nothing personal against Moreno and that what concerns him the most are the corruption issues that are hounding the Moreno administration.