Vice presidential aspirant and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, whose alliance already named its senatorial bets, is supporting the candidacies of Sorsogon Governor Francis "Chiz" Escudero, former spokesman Salvador Panelo and actor Robin Padilla, who are gunning for Senate seats in the upcoming elections and belong to different political parties.
Duterte-Carpio expressed his backing to Escudero, Panelo and Padilla on Saturday after her bike-ride campaign, "Mahalin Natin Ang Pilipinas Ride (MNPR), made a stopover in the municipality of Matnog in Sorsogon.
"Meron din po akong hindi kasama sa UniTeam pero mga kaibigan ko pa rin at tinutulungan ko sila sa kanilang pagtakbo as senators (I help the candidacy of my other friends who are not members of the UniTeam)...and of course, the governor of Sorsogon, si Senator Chiz Escudero," the vice presidential bet told Sorsogon local government officials and supporters during her program.
Escudero, who is part of the National People's Coalition (NPC) and Panelo and Padilla of Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino (PDP-Laban) are not included in Duterte-Carpio and presidential aspirant Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s senatorial ticket, which is already composed of 11 hopefuls.
According to Duterte-Carpio, the support for non-UniTeam senatoriables is a testament that the Philippines can move forward united.
"Gusto nating lagyan ng mukha ang kasabihang (We want to prove that) in unity there is strength," she said.