CEBU CITY—Calls to support the respective bids of Manila Mayor Isko Moreno and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio is snowballing.
This was revealed by Ikaw Muna (IM) Pilipinas-Visayas Pilipinas, a group which is now supporting a Moreno-Duterte-Carpio tandem.
“As chairman of IM Pilipinas-Visayas, I crisscross basicaly the Visayas area and all chapters are calling for an Isko-Sara combination,” Nick Malazarte said in a press briefing Wednesday, March 2.
Malazarte said IM Pilipinas was formed in November to push Moreno to run for president.
Malazarte claimed that IM Pilipinas is the biggest support group of Moreno and there is a clamor among its members to support a Moreno-Duterte-Caprio tandem.
While the group is not dropping Moreno’s running mate, Dr. Willie Ong, supporting Moreno and Duterte-Carpio will give the Manila mayor a big boost, Malazarte said.
“There was a clamor for an Isko and Sara tandem. The tandem will help Isko because Sara is very popular as a vice presidentiable. There is a clamor and it will also enhance political support for Isko,” said Malazarte.
Malazarte said there is nothing irregular if the group pushes for a Moreno-Duterte-Carpio tandem even if the Manila mayor’s running mate is Ong.
“We in the grassroots, we are free to choose whoever we want to partner Isko with,” Malazarte said.
Malazarte said that in Cebu alone, IM Visayas has at least 2,000 members with coordinators in municipal and barangay levels.
Malazarte said IM Pilipinas will soon reach out to other groups that are also pushing for a Moreno-Duterte-Carpio tandem.
Last Feb. 18, at least 15 groups from the Visayas and Mindanao announced their support to the two city mayors.
Called Visayas for Isko-Sara Alliance, the groups vowed to help muster enough votes to ensure the victories of Moreno and the presidential daughter.
Malazarte said IM Pilipinas is also confident that the powerhouse One Cebu party will eventually endorse the candidacy of Moreno.
One Cebu has yet to endorse a presidential candidate but has already announced its support for Duterte-Carpio.
“I am positive that One Cebu will endorse Isko because Congressman PJ (Pablo John Garcia),the secretary general of One Cebu, is actively campagning for Isko,” said Malazarte.
Malazarte said even Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia is also supportive of Moreno “based on her body language during their meetings.”