Is Duterte backing Go-Sara tandem? Solons give different accounts

Two lawmakers who went to Malacanang on Tuesday night have given different accounts on whether he asked his allies in Congress to support the vice presidential bid of his daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.

DIWA party-list Representative Michael Aglipay in a message to House reporters claimed that Duterte asked for support for the presidential bid of Senator Bong Go, Sara’s vice presidential campaign, and his own run for a Senate seat.

“He asked us to support Senator Go, Mayor Sara and him,” DIWA party-list Representative Michael Aglipay said in a message to House reporters.

1-PACMAN party-list Representative Mikee Romero, however, said Duterte said no such thing.

“No, the President did not endorse anybody. Sabi nga niya, this is a non-political event,” Romero told GMA News Online.

Go, in a statement, said the lawmakers present during the meeting expressed support for his presidential bid Duterte’s Senate campaign.

“Ako po ay nagagalak at nagpapasalamat sa kanilang patuloy na pagtitiwala sa amin. Ito po ay nagbibigay inspirasyon sa akin na ipagpatuloy ang ating layunin na matulungan ang mas maraming Pilipino,” Go said.

[I am glad and grateful that they continue to trust us. Their support has inspired me to continue to be of help to our fellow Filipinos.]

“Nangako rin ako sa kanila na ipagpapatuloy ko ang mga magagandang programa ni Pangulong Duterte at dadagdagan ko pa ng mga programang makakatulong sa mahihirap,” he added.

[I also promised to them that I will continue the good programs of the President and that I will step up efforts to help the poor.]

Acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles described Duterte’s meeting with the lawmakers as an informal gathering.

“It was an informal and relaxed gathering with lawmakers, many of whom are friends of the President dating back to his days as mayor of Davao City,” Nograles said.

“It was, for the President, an opportunity to see friends he had not personally seen since the onset of the pandemic due to the restrictions that had been put in place,” he added.

The meeting was held a day after Duterte filed his certificate of candidacy for senator in Eleksyon 2022 under the Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan party.

“With active COVID-19 cases now on a steady decline and now that we are feeling the positive impact of the government’s vaccination, we expect the President to join similar gatherings with friends and allies in the future,” Nograles said.

Romero said there were some around 100 members of the House of Representatives at the meeting.

“In the President’s unscripted speech, he proceeded to thank the 18th Congress for the support it has given his administration,” Romero said.

“In return, leaders of the House, led by Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, thanked the President for all the programs he has coursed through the various representatives of the House,” he added.

“The night ended with each member of Congress having a picture [taken] with the President,” Romero said. -NB, GMA News

Is Duterte backing Go-Sara tandem? Solons give different accounts
Source: Filipino Viral News PH