MEXICO, Pampanga--Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo gave a very clear-cut endorsement of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio's vice presidential bid during a UniTeam rally here on Monday night, April 4.
In the case of presidential candidate Bongbong Marcos, Arroyo was slightly less explicit; However, she unquestionably envisioned him as the person in Malacañang--preferably alongside the so-called "Eagle of Mindanao".
Arroyo and Duterte were together on stage in a rally here in front of thousands of Kapampangans when the former began to talk about the upcoming May 9 polls.
"Kaya ngayon naman, tiyakin natin na UniTeam ang tutulungan natin (In this instance, let's make sure that we will help the UniTeam)," Arroyo said as she thanked her "kabalen" for electing her running mate, then-Senator Noli de Castro, as the country's vice president back in 2004 polls.
The UniTeam tandem is composed of Marcos and his running mate, Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) chairperson, Mayor Duterte.
Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) standard-bearer Marcos wasn't around for the event, which also doubled as an advance birthday celebration for Arroyo.
The Davao official would later tell reporters in a chance interview that Monday was the duo's scheduled rest day from the campaign, which explains Marcos's absence. But Mayor Duterte said the invite from Arroyo was too important to pass up.
"Kailangan ni BBM (Bongbong Marcos), kahit matalino siya, para maging magaling na presidente, kailangan niya si Mayor Inday Sara Duterte bilang bise presidente. ‘Yun ang isang dahilan bakit ineendorso natin si Mayor Sara (Even if BBM is smart, he still needs Mayor Inday Sara Duterte as vice president for him to be a good president. That's one reason why we're endorsing Mayor Sara)," Arroyo, also a former House Speaker, said.
Mqyor Duterte, daughter of incumbent President Duterte, is a multi-term Davao City mayor.
Throughout the campaign, she has repeatedly mentioned how she cleared Davao of its one-billion peso debt, and even made it the eighth richest city in the country.
Speaking of the elder Duterte, Arroyo cited gratitude as the second reason by local folk should vote for Mayor Duterte come May 9.
"Pangalawa, sa laki ng tulong naman ni Presidente Rody Duterte dito sa atin sa Pampanga. Kaya suklian natin siya...Dapat landslide si Inday Sara (Second, with all the help that President Rody Duterte has extended to Pampanga, that's why we should give back to her...Inday Sara must win via landslide)," she said.
Arroyo, who served as Philippine president from 2001 to 2010, turns 75 years old on Tuesday, April 5.
Marcos and Duterte are consistent frontrunners in pre-election surveys for president and vice president, respectively.