BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Forty-seven mayors in Western Visayas, including 12 local chief executives in Negros Occidental, want Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio to run for president in next year’s elections, Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo said yesterday.
Panelo, who visited Negros Occidental during the weekend, did not name the 47 WV mayors, who had told him that they want a “continuity of projects” under a Duterte administration.
In Negros Occidental, Silay City Mayor Mark Golez, La Castellana Mayor Rhumyla Nicor Mangilimutan, and Hinigaran Mayor Nadie Arceo had openly declared their support for Duterte-Carpio, ABC-Padayona Inday Sara movement convenor, retired Col. William Señoron, said.
Panelo said 34 mayors in Iloilo and Capiz are supporting the move to urge Duterte-Carpio to run for president, after a series of meetings with them.
Duterte-Carpio had earlier said she is open to run for president.
“I was the first one to push Mayor Sara to run as president. I pushed the Sara Duterte for President movement,” Panelo said.
He also said the mayors simply want a continuation of programs of the government. “They want projects for their localities, like farm to market roads and school buildings,” Panelo said.
He added he is contemplating running for senator in 2022 under the ruling PDP-Laban party.*
