Durano claims bakud is strong national ally unnecessary

CEBU, Philippines — A day after entering an alliance with the Nationalist People’s Coalition, Cebu Fifth District Rep. Ramon “Red” Durano VI said his local party Barug Alang sa Kauswagan ug Demokrasya (BAKUD) does not need a national party to win an election.

Durano, former president of BAKUD Party, said that endorsements from big political figures are welcome but not necessary.

“For me, it doesn’t matter, kay kita dinhi sa Bakud as a local party, we are very strong," he said.

Durano, who was recently appointed as provincial chairman of NPC, claimed that the local political party founded by his family has been very strong in the fifth district of Cebu and has consistently produced elected officials in the past two decades now.

“In fact, kita maoy panuolon sa mga politiko kay in the past we’ve shown that we are united here in the fifth district and kinsay suportaan nato nga mga kandidato mao gyuy dumadaug,” Durano told reporters in Danao City.

For the upcoming May 2019 midterm elections, BAKUD is endorsing senatorial candidates Grace Poe, Cynthia Villar, JV Ejercito, Sonny Angara, Lito Lapid, and Imee Marcos.       He claimed that their party is dominant in the north because the people see that their candidates, once elected, are performing their jobs well.

“Dili mi pareho aning ubang mga political parties, mga politiko, nga kalit lang og bali at the middle of the game. Kita diri sa BAKUD, I’m proud to say nga we’re very sincere and we’re committed on what we say. Dili kay mao ni among isulti unya ig talikod lain na ang buhaton,” he said.

Durano is confident that with or without formal alliance, they will still have Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP), a regional political party of presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, as an ally.

He explained that BAKUD and HNP alliance is given because they are both partners of NPC.

"We were led to believe that it was okay already and wala na lang sa ta mo-follow up because, of course, our alliance is dependent with the alliance of NPC," he said.

Carpio, in her visit to Liloan last week, denied having an alliance with BAKUD. In fact, she endorsed Durano’s opponent for congressman in the fifth district, Cebu Port Authority Commissioner Duke Frasco.

Despite claiming that they do not need endorsement to win, Durano admitted that he is worried of the endorsement that his opponent got from the presidential daughter. Carpio, however, did not have an official bet for the governor.

She said she is leaving the decision to the Cebuanos who, between Third District Rep. Gwendolyn Garcia and Vice Governor Agnes Magpale, to vote for in the coming elections. (FREEMAN)