The big question right after the Feb. 21 meeting between presidential candidate Bongbong Marcos, his running mate Sara Duterte-Carpio and the Pineda couple of Pampanga is, did the "UniTeam" get the influential couple's endorsement?
Duterte-Carpio, the presidential daughter and incumbent mayor of Davao City gave an answer to this question Tuesday, Feb. 22 on the sidelines of an event in Batangas City.
"Well kahapon wala man silang endorsement (Well they gave no endorsement yesterday)," the lady official candidly admitted.
"But I am honored that I was invited doon sa kanyang (to her) birthday party and I’m happy na nabigyan ako ng pagkakataon na makapagbigay ng mensahe sa mga taga-Pampanga (that I was given an opportunity to share my message to the people of Pampanga)," the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) vice presidential bet said.
Duterte-Carpio was referring to former Pampanga Governor Lilia Pineda, who celebrated her 71st birthday Monday at the Kingsborough Convention Center. She is the current vice governor, with the current governor being her son, Dennis Pineda.
The family patriarch, Rodolfo "Bong" Pineda, has long had the reputation of being a "kingmaker", and this has arguably extended to Lilia as well. As such, come election time, the couple tends to attract politicians.
Since journalists and television crews were shut out from covering the big birthday bash, there was no immediate clarity as to whether or not the BBM-Sara UniTeam received the Pinedas' endorsement.
Until Duterte-Carpio herself said no, that is. But then again, the pair was actually invited to the affair by the Pinedas.
At any rate, Marcos and Duterte-Carpio remain the tandem to beat in the upcoming May 9 polls, as shown by the way that they have led pre-election surveys.
Aside from Marcos and Duterte-Carpio, those who attended the Kingsborough event were members of the UniTeam Senate slate, and Lakas-CMD figurehead, former President and House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Rodolfo and the ex-president both trace their roots to Lubao, Pampanga.