Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, an ally of Pres. Rodrigo Duterte, has endorsed the candidacy of Vice President Leni Robredo and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.
In a statement, Rep. Salceda said he based his decision on the ladies’ track record in public service, which he said he has followed and studied.
“I am for Leni and Sara,” he announced.
“I have long followed and studied their track record in public service, especially good governance and management style. Both VP Leni and Mayor Sara are known for judicious and effective use of public resources in the offices and agencies they presided over. That will be very crucial given our post-pandemic fiscal space.”
He has also looked into the two’s platforms and he said their “visions actually cohere significantly, especially in economic development.”
Rep. Salceda also explained that since PDP-Laban has only endorsed a vice presidential aspirant – Mayor Sara, they are free to choose their presidentiable.
“We party members are free to choose according to our own judgment and conviction. Based on my conversations with many political leaders, Albay officialdom, including members of my party, is hugely Leni-Sara,” he said.
“Finally, Leni-Sara is not a hostile combination as some would suggest. These two were friends, who can work together if they both win. In 2015, Mayor Sara and then Congresswoman Leni went out together on a casual meal while their presidential candidates were duking it out. Both are obsessed with delivering positive results for the people.”
VP Leni is running for presidency with Sen. Kiko Pangilinan as her vice president. Mayor Sara, meanwhile, is gunning for a vice president seat with former Sen. Bongbong Marcos as her presidentiable.