In response to Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte’s query on how best the Hugpong ng Pagbabago can help make former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” E. Marcos her father’s successor, Kilusang Bagong LIpunan (KBL) senatorial bet Larry Gadon urged her to join the 2022 polls as Marcos's running mate.
“Mayor Duterte can help Bongbong win by joining national politics as his vice presidential candidate. This way, the country will have the best of both worlds because they can guarantee strong and sincere leadership,” said Gadon.
Gadon is the lone senatorial candidate of KBL, the political party that was organized by Marcos’ father, the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos.
He said the Marcos-Duterte tandem for the 2022 national elections is a partnership that "Filipinos truly deserve."
The senatorial aspirant said Mayor Duterte’s vice presidential candidacy could ensure the country continuity of the reform programs initiated by her father, incumbent President Rodrigo Duterte.
“On the other hand, BBM will be the unifying factor that is urgently needed in order for the country to continue moving forward. He has outstanding ideas that once fully implemented, will fast track development in every corner of country,” said Gadon.
He called on HNP leaders to convince Mayor Duterte to run for vice president “so that we will see her leading the country in 2028.”
“While we know that the HNP support for the candidacy of Senator Marcos will make him the most formidable presidential candidate in 2022, the party is best advised to push for Mayor Duterte VP bid for the sake of the nation,” said Gadon.
Marcos and Duterte met in Cebu over the weekend and were reported to have held talks about the 2022 national elections.
The meeting fueled speculations that they discussed running together in the 2022 presidential polls, with Marcos continuing as presidential candidate and Mayor Duterte as his vice presidential partner.
Mayor Duterte, who filed her candidacy for re-election, may still participate in the national elections by substituting for certain candidates in whatever position she would want to.
It is believed that a number of individuals who filed their certificate of candidacy for president, vice president and senator are mere placeholders who will willingly give up their candidacy in favor of Mayor Duterte.
Liloan Mayor Cristina Garcia-Frasco, spokesperson for the Davao City chief executive, quoted the mayor as saying; “ I asked him (BBM) how HNP can help him in his bid for the presidency.”
Gadon admitted that leaders of the Marcos presidential campaign have expected the two to formalize a partnership for the 2022 presidency.