CEBU CITY—At least 15 groups from different areas in the Visayas have joined forces to support the candidacies of Manila Mayor Isko Moreno and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte for president and vice president, respectively.
The Visayas for Isko-Sara Alliance(VISA) was launched here Friday, Feb. 18, with the group vowing to help muster enough votes to ensure the victories of Moreno and Duterte.
Composing VISA are the groups SIMBA, Partido Pananghiusa, Inisyatiba Makabayang Pagbabago, Isulong Serbisyo sa Katawhan nga Organisado(ISKO) Alang Isko, Ikaw Muna Pilipinas, Ordinaryong Lungsoranon, Task Force Crusaders, Duterte Riders Team, F4, Samar Group for Isko, CIGOTON, Isko Na Bai, Blue Ladies for Isko and Women for Isko.
Lawyer Jose Daluz, president of Partido Panaghiusa, said that “for the love of the country”, they chose Moreno and Duterte even if they come from different parties.
“We don’t even need funds from these candidates. We are doing this for the love of the country,” said Daluz.
“The group is not targeting certain number of votes that it can deliver for Moreno and the presidential daughter. What’s important is that there will be groups that can help propel the two candidates to the Malacanang,” Daluz said.
“We are not targeting how many votes. We just want to band together and help Isko and Sara. These are just volunteer groups, we don’t even have to ask the candidates,” Daluz said.
As mayors of “premier cities”, Moreno and Duterte have proven their capabilities as pubic officials, Daluz said.
“Isko will be a very good president for the next six years especially if his vice president is Sara Duterte. They’re both Bisaya. We cannot deny that they ave done a lot in their cities,” added Daluz.
The group also shrugged off recent survey results placing Moreno in the middle of the rankings.
“We don’t believe in surveys and there are surveys that are just for mind-conditioning,” said Daluz.
Edward Ligas, convenor of ISKO, said they are confident that Moreno’s ranking will go up as the campaign period progresses.
“The survey was conducted before these presidential debates and Isko had yet to personally campaign at the time. So in the coming days, the trend will change in favor of Isko," Ligas said.
Wagas added that the the formation of VISA will lure more groups to support Moreno.