Governors throw support behind Duterte VP bid

ZAMBOANGA CITY – At least 40 provincial governors are supporting the vice presidential bid of President Rodrigo Duterte in next year’s elections.

Duterte was endorsed by his own political party, the PDP-Laban, to run for vice president so he can continue what he has started when he won the presidency in 2016. 

Melvin Matibag, the PDP-Laban Secretary General, said the country’s provincial governors are strongly supporting Duterte’s vice presidential bid. The Philippines has 81 governors.

Matibag released to the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner a list of governors supporting Duterte’s vice presidential candidacy and they are the following: Governors Sakur Tan – Sulu; Jose Alvarez - Palawan; Dale Corvera - Agusan Norte; Damian Mercado – Southern Leyte; Humerlito Dolor - Oriental Mindoro; Dakila Cua – Quirino; Nancy Catamco – Cotabato; Arthur Yap – Bohol; Edgardo Tallado - Camarines Norte; Wilter Palma - Zamboanga Sibugay; Francisco  Matugas - Surigao Norte; Jim Salliman -  Basilan; Reynolds Michael Tan – Samar; Esteban Contreras – Capiz; Edwin Ong - Northern Samar; Dominic Petilla – Leyte; Roger Espina – Biliran; Antonio Kho – Masbate; Imelda Dimaporo - Lanao del Norte; Vic Yu - Zamboanga del Sur; Philip Tan - Misamis Occidental; Ayik Pimentel - Surigao del Sur; Jecoy Villa – Siquijor; Pacoy Ortega - La Union.

And Joel Degamo - Negros Oriental; Joseph Cua – Catanduanes; Eduardo Gadiano - Occidental Mindoro; Samuel Gumarin – Guimaras; Steve Solon – Sarangani; Jun Ebdane – Zambales; Migs Villafuerte - Camarines Sur; Mariam Mangudadatu – Maguindanao; Suharto Mangudadatu- Sultan Kudarat; Samuel Gumarin – Guimaras; Joe Riano – Romblon Rodora Cadiao – Antique; Al Francis Bicharado – Albay; Bonifacio Lacwasan - Mountain Province; Florencio Miraflores – Aklan and Ben Evardone - Eastern Samar.

Matibag said if Duterte wins as vice president, he could influence his successor to pursue his war on drugs, his Build, Build, Build infrastructure plan, projects for the poor, and his post-Covid 19 pandemic economic recovery roadmap, among other programs. 

“Despite the inroads in the campaign against illegal drugs, the drug menace continues to persist. Indeed, this problem is no longer confined to urban areas; it has spread to the countryside. The next administration, with the help of President Duterte, should relentlessly pursue the war on drugs,” he said. 

He also released a collective statement from the governors, saying: “We, provincial governors, are witness to the gains of the Build, Build, Build program. New road networks, school buildings, airports, seaports, medical facilities, and river protection and drainage systems have mushroomed in the provinces, generating economic activities, jobs and income for our people. We have to continue building and improving infrastructure to speed up urban and rural development.”

“The nation was on a high economic growth path until the pandemic struck in early 2020. It’s unfortunate that Covid-19 derailed economic progress. But with President Duterte’s guiding hand, the next leadership could do it. The President’s war on drugs, his campaign against corruption, his prudent use of government resources, and his incessant pursuit of good governance will all contribute to a post-pandemic environment conducive for faster economic growth. We hope and pray that the next President and President Duterte as his Vice President could work together in making life better for our people.”

Duterte has chosen his longtime aide-turned-politician Senator Bong Go to run for president.

Gov. Sakur Tan bows to President Rodrigo Duterte as he welcomes him and Senator Bong Go during a visit to Sulu province.  Tan is a close political ally of the President and one of 40 governors supporting Duterte's vice presidential bid.

The governor of Sulu, a close political ally of Duterte, said his municipal mayors and constituents are all behind Duterte and cited the president’s leadership and concerns for the poor, and the government peace and development efforts not only in his province, but the entire Muslim autonomous region. 

“Alam mo kaya gusto ko si President Duterte tumakbong vice president kasi as far as Sulu is concerned, napakaganda na ngayon ng Sulu. Tahimik, walang kidnapping, wala lahat, puro development ngayon. Kailangan may continuity, kung mawala yun continuity babalik na naman kami sa gulo,” Tan said.

The government’s anti-insurgency and peace and development campaign in Sulu has drastically reduced the number of Abu Sayyaf members due to the mass surrender of militants under the auspices of the provincial government and the Task Force to End Local Armed Conflict. (Mindanao Examiner)