PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte may endorse presidential aspirant and incumbent Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso in the 2022 elections.
This was what former Agrarian Reform Secretary John Castriciones, who is seeking a seat in the Senate, told reporters on Friday, February 18, 2022.
Castriciones, who was in Cebu City for a launching of its official headquarters in Barangay Cogon Ramos, said they have gained the confidence of Duterte after their organization, identified as the Mayor Rodrigo Roa Rodrigo Duterte National Executive Coordinating Committee
(MRRDNECC) was the one responsible for having launched a very successful campaign for the incumbent president in 2016.
Catriciones is MRRDNECC's founding president.
He said majority of MRRDNECC's membership, which he claims to be around at least two million, decided to support the bid for presidency and vice presidency of Domagoso and presidential daughter and incumbent Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.
“There’s a big possibility (that President Duterte will endorse Isko Moreno). But of course, we respect the pronouncement of the president. If he says otherwise, so be it. But as of now, since he has not made any pronouncements yet, then we are inclined to believe that he allows us to continue our position on the matter,” he added.
Catriciones said that if Duterte did not agree with their presidential bet, then the latter should have made a statement already.
But Castriciones said that based on their experience during Cabinet meetings, it is unlikely that Duterte would make pronouncements although the organization already sent him a letter informing him about their endorsement of Domagoso.
“You will never hear him make pronouncements but look at his body language. I may be wrong but probably, I would like to assume. What is your interpretation of his body language?,” he said.
Castriciones disclosed that the majority of the core group leaders of the MRRDNECC were appointed by Duterte as either Cabinet secretaries or undersecretaries during his term as president.
Aside from Castriciones, other MRRDNECC core group members included Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary Martin Diño, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Undersecretary Aimee Neri, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Commissioner Dr. Ronald Adamat, National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) Secretary Noel Felongco, Department of Agrarian Reform
(DAR) Undersecretary Emily Padilla, among others.
“We were duly appointed in those positions, so don't we have the confidence and the trust of the president?,” he said, adding that they are very loyal to Duterte whom they are still serving.
When asked as to what made the organization decide to support Domagoso, Castriciones said they found out that the presidential aspirant supports the community program of the current administration.
While there may be good and bad points in the administration, the former Cabinet secretary said
Domagoso, who is running under Aksyon Demokratiko, knows the good points that he plans to continue should he be elected as president.
Apart from that, Castriciones said Domagoso is also known for being the local chief executive who acts fast and makes decisions in such a way that is not too late.
He further said that based on the pronouncement of Domagoso concerning his policies are aligned with the objective of their organization such as the programs for the betterment of the society, particularly in improving the lives of the poor, where the presidential aspirant
also came from.
“Experience would tell us that it is best that we choose the people who would really clamor for the interest of the people,” he added.
The presidential daughter Duterte-Carpio, who is under Lakas-CMD, however, is running for vice president with former senator and presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. who is under Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP).
Meanwhile, Castriciones, who was the founder of the PFP, said he is no longer a member of the said party, citing that he already shifted to PDP-Laban faction led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi.
Castriciones said there has been a sort of controversy with regards to the PFP, which he chose not to disclose any further the internal problem.
Duterte earlier called Marcos as a weak leader, the reason why he would not want an alliance with Lakas-CMD, although the ruling party has adopted Duterte-Carpio as their vice
presidential bet.
The President also noted an unnamed presidential aspirant whom he accused of doing cocaine, although Marcos did not feel alluded to by the former's statement but had himself tested for drug use instead.
“Whenever the president makes a statement, it's always backed up by evidence.. investigated and researched,” he said.
The former Cabinet secretary said that by being a senator, he would have more ways of helping the farmers, citing the need to craft laws that would give them the voice.
“I wanted to craft laws that would give voice to our farmers and also in order to enhance agriculture. We will not only give away lands to our farmers but to all poor citizens of our country who would like to venture into agriculture,” he said.
He noted that there are some loopholes within the Agrarian Reform Program which needs to be corrected by only crafting laws.
For his part, Engr. Ruben Virtucio, FBJ organizer, said they chose to launch the first headquarters in Cebu, citing that the former Cabinet secretary was frequent in the province to provide help for the farmers and other basic sectors in the society.
“I'm very, very much concerned about the welfare and the interest of the Cebuanos. That's the reason why I would like to continue the giving of lands to our fellow Cebuanos and also to give support services to them because it's not enough that you give them a piece of land,” said
Castriciones. (MKG)