CEBU CITY -- Former Tourism Secretary and Cebu gubernatorial candidate Ace Durano has declared support for presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
Durano’s official declaration of support for Marcos led to the cancellation of Vice President Leni Robredo’s appearance in a grand campaign rally for Durano and his running mate Cebu Vice Governor Hilario ‘Junjun’ Davide III in Talisay City, Cebu on Tuesday, April 26.
The camp of Durano and Davide has already announced that Robredo will be attending the grand rally. Robredo’s supposed appearance was shelved when Durano learned that his national party, Partido Pagbabago sa Pilipino (PPP), had made a decision to support Marcos.
“The Partido Pilipino sa Pagbabago, the national party that I am part of, recently posted a manifesto of its support for BBM. It was published two days ago and I was personally informed by the PPP national chairman only late afternoon yesterday (Sunday, April 24),” Durano said in a statement.
Durano’s local party, Barug Alang sa Kauswagan ug Demokrasya (Bakud), has already announced its support for Marcos and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.
Davide is supporting the candidacy of Robredo but he assured this will not affect the Davide-Durano tandem.
“From the start, our goal was not really on forging political alliances but more on who will support our cause particularly the Cebu Priority Development Agenda, which was crafted by ordinary Cebuanos and 300 sectoral leaders,” said Davide.
The Vice Governor also thanked Robredo ‘for believing and supporting our Cebu Priority Development Agenda in her speech during her visit to Cebu last April 21st.’
“We have gone this far. Ace and I will finish the race with the same vigor, enthusiasm and respect as the interest of the Cebuanos is more paramount over our personal choices,” said Davide.
With the development, the ‘Uniteam’ tandem of Marcos and Duterte has secured the support of the opposing gubernatorial candidates in Cebu.
Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia and the influential One Cebu Party has endorsed the candidacies of Marcos and Duterte.