Duterte throws support behind Noynoy, Mar

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Mayor Rodrigo Duterte finally doused off speculations as to who he would endorse for president when he finally announced his support for Liberal Party (LP) standard-bearer Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III during a rally of his local party, Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod, here Friday night.

Duterte, who is running for vice mayor, also endorsed the candidacy of Sen. Manuel Roxas II for vice president as well as the LP’s senatorial slate.

He said Aquino has the edge among the other presidential candidates, as he has been strong in this southern metropolis since the start.

Duterte said he has been supporting the Aquinos since the administration of the late former President Corazon Aquino.

“My mother was one of the leaders of the Yellow Friday group here. She was one of those who marched in the streets to end the Marcos dictatorship,” he recalled, adding that Mrs. Aquino was also somehow instrumental in starting his political career in the late 1980s.

Aquino, for his part, urged the Dabawenyos to vote for Duterte’s daughter Sara, the incumbent vice mayor who is seeking the mayoral seat in the May 10 polls.

Meanwhile, Las Piñas Rep. Cynthia Villar, wife of Nacionalista Party standard-bearer Sen. Manuel Villar, virtually flew into the Davao International Airport Friday afternoon to a “yellow” reception line meant to welcome Aquino. She was on board a helicopter.

But Mrs. Villar was unfazed by the number of vehicles waiting for Aquino, Roxas and the LP’s senatorial bets who were slated to arrive at the Davao airport on board a private plane from Manila at 2 p.m. Friday.

“There were just a few of them. They were not that many. And I do not think they were diehard Noynoy (supporters) because they were wearing Duterte shirts. They must be supporters of the mayor,” Mrs. Villar said.

Close to 200 vehicles adorned with yellow ribbons and tarpaulins formed part of the convoy that cruised the city’s main thoroughfares for the visiting LP candidates.

Duterte and his daughter Sara joined the LP motorcade in the same vehicle that carried Aquino and Roxas.

Mrs. Villar actually arrived here at around 9:40 a.m. Friday and immediately boarded a helicopter that took her to Carmen, North Cotabato where she briefly visited the ailing father of Rep. Emmylou “Lala” Taliño-Mendoza, who is a Lakas-Kampi-CMD member.

“Lala is a close friend. She has been my seatmate in Congress for a long time,” Mrs. Villar told The STAR.

Upon her return to Davao City, Mrs. Villar, while waiting for her flight to Manila, went to see Pastor Apollo Quiboloy of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ The Name Above Every Name whose network base is located just beside the airport. She took the 4:50 p.m. Cebu Pacific flight to Manila.