The Lakas-CMD party revealed on Monday, Jan. 24 that Saranggani Rep. Ruel Pacquiao, younger brother of presidential aspirant Sen. Manny Pacquiao, has vowed to support the vice presidential candidacy of party chairperson, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.
Saranggani Gov. Steve Solon and several mayors from the various towns of the provinces also pledged support for Duterte during a meeting held in Davao City Monday afternoon.
Duterte is running in tandem with Partido Federal ng Pilipinas chairman and standard bearer Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
Her rival, House Deputy Speaker and Buhay Partylist Rep. Lito Atienza, is the elder Pacquiao’s running mate.
Previous to meeting between Duterte and Pacquiao’s congressman-brother, the senator, standard bearer of PROMDI Partylist, reiterated his support for Atienza whom he personally handpicked among a number of choices from his other party, the PDP-Laban (Pimentel wing).
In a press statement issued Monday night by Lakas-CMD, the party said Rep. Pacquiao, Gov. Solon and the Saranggani mayors have “expressed support for the vice presidential candidacy of Inday Sara.”
'The expression of support is deeply appreciated, and it affirmed the essence of the unity that the UniTeam has been trying to espouse among political parties — as a way to achieve the common goals that the UniTeam has for our country and the Filipinos,” the party said.
Lakas-CMD also said that Marcos had been informed about the Davao City meeting.
“The UniTeam agreed that Sara Duterte should meet the leaders of the Province of Sarangani. BBM himself underscored the value of “not turning down expressions of support” to their candidacies — either separately or collectively as a UniTeam,” the Lakas-CMD press statement said.
The party added: “BBM and Sara Duterte are confident in their mutual support for each other.”