CEBU CITY -- Members and non-members of Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) who are running for senators were endorsed by President Rodrigo Duterte.
The President made the endorsement during the proclamation rally of PDP-Laban in Barangay Pajo, Lapu-Lapu City on Thursday night, March 31.
The President endorsed Astra Pimentel, Rey Langit, Greco Belgica, Salvador Panelo, and Robin Padilla, who are running under the PDP-Laban wing led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi.
Non-PDP Laban members that were endorsed by the President were Alan Peter Cayetano, Chiz Escudero, Loren Legarda, Joel Villanueva, Jinggoy Estrada, JV Ejercito, Gibo Teodoro and Migz Zubiri.
The party also adopted guest senatorial candidates Mark Villar, Rodante Marcoleta, and Harry Roque.
In front of an estimated 75,000 people, the President also endorsed PDP-Laban bets running for various local positions in Cebu.
Among those endorsed by the President were re-electionists Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, and mayors Michael Rama (Cebu City), Jonas Cortes (Mandaue City) and Junard “Among” Chan (Lapu-Lapu City).
Prior to the proclamation rally, the President said that he is not going to endorse any presidential candidate.
“I am not endorsing any Presidential candidate. Neutral ako. So this is not a campaign because I am not campaigning for any particular candidate... Stop with me. Kasi ito, hindi ito pulitika (because this is not politics),” said Duterte in a speech during the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) meeting in a resort in Lapu-Lapu City.