Pam Baricuatro gets boost from Duterte’s common-law wife

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu gubernatorial candidate Pamela “Pam” Baricuatro recently gained an apparent boost to her campaign following the public endorsement of Honeylet Avanceña, the common-law wife of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Avanceña publicly expressed her admiration for Baricuatro and urged Cebuanos to support her in the upcoming May 12 election.

In a video by a Duterte supporter, which was shared by Baricuatro’s official page, Avanceña revealed her fondness for the candidate when approached outside the ICC Detention Center in The Hague, Netherlands.

“Ah, oh yes. Oh uy, ganahan kaayo ko ana niya…Mutan-aw baya ko ana iyahang, kuan gani kos iyang [page]. Unsay tawag gani ana? Follow ba na?” Avanceña said.

Avanceña went further, declaring Baricuatro as very fit for the role of Cebu governor.

“Bagay man siya mahimong Gov. I know na ikaw gyud ra diha, Gov. Pam,” she said.

She also appealed to Cebuanos, asking for their support in trying “a new way of governance” and highlighting Baricuatro’s qualities as a leader who has endured hardships and exemplifies resilience.

“Mga Cebuano palihug ko og tabang kay Pam Baricuatro, sulayi pod ninyo ang laing pamaagi sa pang gobyerno …Maayo man ning tao nga niagi og kalisod, magdumala og kuan, pareho ba ni former president (Duterte). Suporta man gyud na siya (Pam) kay former president so mga taga Cebu, Pam Baricuatro sa umaabot nga election May 12. Daghang salamat,” Avanceña ended.

This endorsement adds to the support Baricuatro previously received from former President Duterte himself, who had endorsed her candidacy alongside other PDP-Laban bets.

Duterte’s endorsement extended to notable local candidates like Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama and Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes, who are both seeking re-election, Paz Radaza who is eyeing a return as mayor of Lapu-Lapu, and Binggol Villo in Consolacion.

Pam expressed gratitude

Baricuatro expressed her gratitude for Avanceña’s support, describing it as a pleasant surprise during a challenging time for the Duterte family due to the former president’s detention.

“Despite being in distress due to her husband’s incarceration, she took time to selflessly and bravely endorse me. Dako kaayo kog pasalamat niya!” Baricuatro said in an interview with The Freeman yesterday.

Earlier, Baricuatro’s candidacy had faced scrutiny from Hakbang ng Maisug-Cebu, which questioned her motives and alleged that she sidelined other Duterte-endorsed candidates, especially lawyer Vic Rodriguez.

Baricuatro denied these claims and affirmed her full support for all PDP-Laban and Duterte-backed bets, urging unity among their shared political goals.

“I hold Rodriguez in the highest regard,” she emphasized in a Facebook post.

“He is a brilliant, principled leader who deserves a rightful seat in the Senate. I’ve personally endorsed him across events and look forward to working together for a better Cebu and a better Philippines.”

For Rodriguez, the upcoming elections present a critical opportunity to address the nation’s challenges.

The senatorial candidate, in a one-on-one interview with The Freeman earlier, urged voters to be mindful of their choices, emphasizing the need for capable leadership to tackle issues such as inflation, poverty, and corruption.

“Mahirap nating pilitin yung mga taong ayaw maniwala at meron ng nabuong paniniwala…I am here offering myself to the people, and sana ay mapagbigyan nila ako at mapahirap ng kanilang tiwala at sagradong mandato,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez, however, stressed that those who do not trust him should vote for the right candidate.

“We have to understand what is at stake for our country in this midterm election? Our country is facing in the wrong direction… So when we are faced in the wrong direction, we should not expect to reach the right and proper destination,” he added.

Halfway through Marcos Jr.’s administration, Rodriguez said the Filipino people still have a chance to change the country’s course.

“Sa pamamagitan ng ating balota at pagboto, sana wag nating sayangin ito dahil baka ito na ang huling pagkakataon na maitama natin ang direction ng bansa natin…So we have to take this election to heart, we have to be very very mindful of the candidates that we are going to vote and put in to different offices available in this midterm election.”

Rodriguez said Cebuanos—and the rest of the country—should vote for him because he has “accepted the challenge of becoming the voice of the ordinary citizen in the Senate as well as the eyes and ears of the Filipinos against corruption in government,” just as he has started by questioning the 2025 National Budget, which he describes as “illegal, invalid, unlawful.”

According to Rodriguez, Filipinos only have two choices in the upcoming election: “Team Duterte ka ba or Team Mabubudol…It’s up for the people to decide.”

“Nakikita natin na walang nangyayaring mabuti sa bansa, mali ang direction. If sa tingin ninyo ang mahigit mabuti ang buhay ng mga Pilipino nuong panahon ni Pangulong Duterte then support, vote straight for Team Duterte," he said.

"Kung sa tingin ninyo na hindi laganap ang droga ngayon, hindi mataas ang kriminalidad at mas mura ang mga bilihin ngayon, eh di dito kayo sa isang grupo, pero kung kayo ay naniniwala na higit laganap ang kahirapan, ang kagutuman, ang inflation hindi masawata, ang corruption lalong tumutindi at balik na naman ang droga at kriminalidad sa lansangan, pls vote straight for Team Duterte,” Rodriguez added.

As election day approaches, Baricuatro and other Duterte-endorsed candidates continue to rally support, highlighting their vision for progress and good governance.

Earlier, Avanceña also relayed that FRRD told her to remind his supporters to vote for all his endorsed PDP bets.

“Sabi niya, kalimutan nyo daw siya kung ‘di nyo daw suportahan ang PDP niya. Magkalimutan na lang daw,” Avanceña said.

For the Senate, there is the so-called “Duterte 10”—Senators Bong Go and Bato Dela Rosa, along with lawyer Vic Rodriguez, lawyer Jimmy Bondoc, Raul Lambino, Dante Marcoleta, Jayvee Hinlo, Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, Dr. Marites Mata, and Philip Salvador. — (FREEMAN)