BAKUD supporting Marcos-Duterte tandem

CEBU, Philippines —  The Bongbong-Sara tandem is getting support from the Barug Alang sa Kauswagan ug Demokrasya (BAKUD), the Durano-led political party in the Fifth District of the Province of Cebu.

BAKUD Chairman Emeritus and Danao City Mayor Ramon Nito Durano III, in a press conference, yesterday said that the party, after consultations with its leaders and members in the Fifth District, is throwing its full support to Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. for President and to Sara Zimmerman Duterte – Carpio for Vice President in the coming May 2022 elections.

“In our support to the BBM-Sara uniteam, the party acknowledges the long and tested alliance and friendship of the Duranos and Marcoses,” Durano said.

Durano said that BBM is a very dear friend to the party, most especially to him.

“I have known BBM for more than four decades. Being in the company of BBM, I have known him as a very good person. Ligdong nga pagkatawo, sa ato pa’ng panultihon. Dili pala-away, at hindi mayabang,” Durano said.

Durano recalled when BBM was a newlywed, whenever he and his wife, Lisa, would come to his favorite place in Cebu, the Alegre beach in Sogod, he would first come to his house and would ask him to go with him to the beach.

“Ours is a friendship beyond politics,” Durano said adding that during BBM’s visit to Danao City months ago, the latter would definitely run for president, and that it will be the alliance with Inday Sara.

He assured BBM of his unconditional support and it was just a matter of time of making it public.

The party also supports Sara Duterte-Carpio, who has roots and family in Danao, and whose family has held many years in public service.

“As far as Mayor Inday Sarah’s candidacy as Vice-President being from the south, we can just say that with our choice for president who is from the north, it’s a match made in heaven,” Durano added.

Bakud foresees that BBM shall be a healing president who will unite the country and help it recover from the pandemic as Bakud commits its full force to work all-out for the victory of the BBM-Sara Uniteam.

Bakud shall lead in ushering a new kind of leadership, calling everyone to move forward and work together to make A Better Cebu.

Bakud is composed of seven incumbent Mayors out of 11 Local Government Units, with six Vice-Mayors, 57 out of 90 Councilors, 116 out of 207 Barangay Captains in the Fifth District of Cebu.

Sought for comments on this latest political development in Cebu, Cebu Fifth District Rep. Duke Frasco and Liloan Mayor Christina Garcia-Frasco said that Bakud’s expression of support for the UniTeam BBM-SARA is welcome and expected.

They said that in Cebu, including the Fifth District, UniTeam BBM-SARA has already garnered massive support as early as when they first declared their support for them in November 2021, with Rep. Frasco being tasked by Marcos to head the campaign for Uniteam in the Province of Cebu, and Mayor Frasco having been appointed early on as Sara’s spokesperson.

“Let us hope that BAKUD’s support for UniTeam would also translate to them finally adopting the values of the UniTeam in the coming elections: to respect the will of the people to freely choose their leaders without harrassment or intimidation, and to govern fairly with the people’s welfare paramount, free of politicking,” the couple’s statement further read. — Le Phyllis F. Antojado, KQD (FREEMAN)