Bakud party to also ‘Do same’: Durano throws support behind Poe-Chiz tandem

CEBU, Philippines - If their Cebu visit yesterday was any indication, it appears presidential candidate Grace Poe and her runningmate Francis “Chiz” Escudero now enjoy the support of the influential Durano family.

The tandem was joined by Cebu 5th district Representative Joseph “Ace” Durano, whose local party is aligned with the Liberal Party.

While he did not categorically endorse their candidacies, Durano said he was lobbying for both senators to get the support of local party Barug Alang sa Kauswagan ug Demokrasya (BAKUD) party.

The influential Durano family of Danao City is a relative of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who is also running for president.

BAKUD is supposedly actively aligned with the ruling Liberal Party, whose local members include no less than Durano’s aunt, Vice Governor Agnes Magpale, and incumbent Governor Hilario Davide.

Durano, though, said that it would be just a matter of time when the BAKUD will announce its support for specific national candidates, hinting at Poe and Escudero.

Although he did not specifically say that they would drop Mar Roxas, he said that he openly supported Poe-Escudero ticket with the blessing of the Bakud party leadership, his father Danao City Mayor Nito Durano.

“Wa ko mudawat ani nga obligasyon ug wala sad ko’y blessing sa among partido sa BAKUD. (I will not accept this obligation of campaigning for Poe and Escudero if I did not have blessing from BAKUD). Although, I am here in my personal capacity, wa sad ko mudawat ani og ilaha ra sad ko pasagdaan (sa Bakud) (I would not have accepted this obligation too if BAKUD would just left me all alone),” Durano said.

“Naka-meet naman sila (BAKUD leaders) personally with (Poe and Chiz) and they are very open....  Ang gihuwat nalang nato nga magsugod ang kampanya unya sila gyud ang ilahang kampanyahan (What we are waiting now is the campaign period and that our party will also start campaigning for them),” he added.

Durano said he has been lobbying within their party for Poe and Escudero and he believed that most of the members of the party have agreed with him already.

“As far as (the posts for) president and vice president is concerned, mao ni akong gipaningkamot (Poe-Chiz) …. Ang pinaka-daghan nga supporta makuha nako para kanila maoy akong objective (My task now is to see to it Poe and Escudero gets as much support as I can. That is my objective now),” he said.

The congressman also said that for the local elections they would still continue to support LP candidates, including his aunt and Davide.

Poe and Escudero were in Cebu City yesterday to join a students’ forum at the Southwestern University. They were joined by senatorial candidates Susan Ople and Neri Colmenares who also answered a few questions from the students.

During the forum, Poe promised to ease the students’ burden caused by worsening traffic congestion with a railway system apart from the Bus Rapid Transit system whose construction would start this year.

 She said the next administration should have a better plan for the future especially on how to address traffic woes in Cebu, adding that a Light Rail Transit and a Mono Rail Transit is an option for Cebu.

In a press conference, she said traffic in Cebu is getting to be lot more like that in Metro Manila.

“Kami ay namamangha sa development ng Cebu. Nagiging Metro Manila na rin kasi ma-traffic kahit saan ka magpunta,” she said.

Poe also said the lack of water supply in Cebu should also be looked into.

On peace and order, the lady senator said she would tap the help of barangay officials against illegal drugs by putting in incentives for them.

She said barangay officials would be required to give regular reports on peace and order in their respective areas

The illegal drug problem, Poe said, should also be treated as a national security threat, wherein all law enforcement agencies would help in anti-illegal drug operations.

Poe also promised to empower the Metro Cebu Development Authority to suggest local projects that would sustain the rapid development growth of Cebu province.

Aside from the forum, Poe and her companions also toured local radio stations and talked about various topics that include her assuring that she is still a candidate despite the disqualification case being heard by the Supreme Court. — (FREEMAN)