CEBU, Philippines - Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez endorsed the candidacy of reelectionist Senator Gregorio “Gringo†Honasan to city department heads and employees during his visit at the city hall yesterday morning.
“Atong paluyohan si Senator Honasan,†Fernandez said, who belongs to Alayon party which has merged with the Nacionalista Party (NP).
The NP has coalesced with the administration LP for the midterm elections.
Honasan, who belongs to the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), along with Cagayan Rep. Juan Ponce “Jack†Enrile Jr., had dropped out of the so-called “Magic 12†senatorial lineup as administration bets dominate the slate according to the results of a recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey.
The survey, in partnership with BusinessWorld, showed Enrile, the son of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, dropping out of the top 12 from the 8th to 9th spot in the January survey to 13th spot in the February survey; Honasan dropping from 5th to 6th place to 15th place.
But Honasan said the “election will not be decided by any party or any survey†as he and his partymates depend on the support of Cebuanos.
Honasan was with Senator Vicente “Tito†Sotto III during his visit to Talisay City.
“I’m here to bring myself for your judgment,†Honasan said.
He said he will campaign more in the grassroots and bring the issues to the people.
During his visit to Talisay, Honasan said that the three-week stand-off in Sabah should be resolved peacefully and that the administration of President Aquino III should give importance to the claim of the 74-year-old Manila-based Islamic leader, Jamalul Kiram III.
A total of 27 people have been reported killed in clashes since the followers of Jamalul Kiram III, an heir to the Sultan of Sulu, landed there on February 12 by boat.
“The claim of the sultanate is legitimate and they are Filipinos. It must be resolved peacefully,†Honasan said.
The Sulu sultanate’s power faded about a century ago but it has continued to receive nominal Malaysian payments from Sabah under a lease deal inherited from European colonial powers. (FREEMAN)