Group pushing Duterte-Marcos tandem

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – The Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) partylist group is pushing the candidacy of Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for president and vice president, respectively.

More than 2,000 PBA members gathered Saturday to informally launch its ‘ALyansang DUterte-Bongbong’ campaign or ALDUB, a pun on the popular kalyeserye portion of TV show Eat Bulaga.

But the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP) Laban party has issued orders for its members to support Duterte and his chosen running mate Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano.

Ben Ranque, PDP Laban secretary general, also said the party created a committee to screen the adoption of local candidates to ensure they support the candidacies of Duterte and Cayetano.

Duterte did not show up, although Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles, whose brother Jericho is the spokesman and nominee of PBA, said the mayor was not expected to attend.

Marcos, vice presidential bet of Sen. Miriam Santiago and who appeared as a special guest and speaker of the gathering, thanked the group, saying he was humbled by the overwhelming support.

He said that even if Duterte did not pick him as running mate, their friendship and respect for each other remains. He added that Duterte could freely campaign in the Ilocos provinces and among Ilocano communities anywhere in the country.

The senator said he would not in anyway hinder the mayor’s campaign even in his own bailiwick in the Ilocos provinces.

Loyalist Oliver Lozano first suggested a Duterte-Marcos alliance, saying the combination could unite the solid north with the Visayas and Mindanao areas. – With Perseus Echeminada