BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Lakas-CMD Rep. Ma. Lourdes Arroyo and three mayors in the 5th district of Negros Occidental are supporting the tandem of former Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.
This came after Negros Occidental Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer also hinted his support to the Marcos and Duterte- Carpio tandem during the recent general assembly of the United Negros Alliance, which was founded by the late Ambassador Eduardo Cojuangco.
Arroyo formally declared yesterday her support to the Marcos and Duterte-Carpio UniTeam, being a member of Lakas-CMD, a political party also of her sister-in-law, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
The solon said that she will campaign for the BBM and Sara alliance to her constituents, as she hopes that all the mayors in the 5th district will support her choice.
La Castellana Mayor Alme Rhummyla Nicor-Mangilimutan and Moises Padilla Mayor Ella Celestina Garcia-Yulo also aired their support to the BBM-Sara tandem.
Mangilimutan said that Himamaylan City Mayor Raymund Tongson is also supporting the Marcos and Duterte-Carpio alliance, being the provincial chairman of BBM-Sara volunteers.
Still undecided are Isabela Mayor Irene Montilla, who is affiliated with the Nationalist People’s Coalition, Hinigaran Mayor Nadie Arceo (PDP –Laban) and Binalbagan Mayor Alejandro Mirasol, who ran under Lakas-CMD during the 2019 elections.
Montilla said she has no presidential candidate as of this time, adding that she will wait for the decision of her affiliated political party, which is the NPC.
Mangilimutan disclosed that that most of the mayors of the 5th district were the original supporters Duterte-Carpio when she was still eyeing the presidency.
When she decided to run in tandem with Marcos, it is but natural that we support her and her running mate, she stressed.
Arroyo said that the BBM-Sara tandem is expected to visit Negros Occidental in January next year depending on the pandemic status.*
