KUSUG party has no bet for president yet

CEBU, Philippines —  The head of Kugi Uswag Sugbu (KUSUG), Cebu City North District Councilor Raymond Garcia, has clarified that he will still consult with his party's board of directors regarding their endorsement for the presidency.

This is Garcia's explanation after the Partido BARUG-PDP Laban of Mayor Michael Rama has formally endorsed former senator Bongbong Marcos as president in upcoming election.

Garcia is Rama's running mate. KUSUG is included in the BARUG coalition.

Garcia said that his party members have personal choices and he respects it.

"Ako gyud na respetohon ang ilang desisyon. As of now, wala pa'y gi-endorse nga president ang KUSUG," said Garcia.

Another member of the BARUG coalition is the Partido Panaghiusa led by Atty. Joey Daluz, who made it clear that he could never endorse Marcos.

It will be recalled that his late mother, Nenita Cortes-Daluz, was one of those who fought against Martial Law in the 1980s.

The Panaghiusa Party was formed to fight the dictator so Daluz insisted that he could never endorse Marcos.

He said he is determined to maintain the direction and principles of the old party. Partido Panaghiusa earlier announced that it is supporting the candidacy of Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno.

Another member of BARUG-PDP Laban, Councilor James Cuenco, also revealed that he cannot support BBM out of respect for his late father, former Congressman Antonio Cuenco, who was also known as anti-martial law.

But even though Marcos is not their bet for president, they still support his running mate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.

Daluz, Garcia and Cuenco said that their strong alliance with Rama will remain in the local arena.

On Wednesday, Rama’s Partido Barug-PDP Laban endorsed the tandem of Marcos and Duterte for the May 2022 elections.

The announcement came few days before the start of the campaign period on February 8 for the national candidates and ahead of the formal announcement by the president of his anointed candidate.

In several occasions, Rama said his group will support whoever will be endorsed by President Duterte after Senator Bong Go withdrew from the presidential race.

Rama explained that he and his group decided not to wait for the president’s decision because the campaign period for national candidates is already starting few days from now.

 He said they consulted some ‘national personalities’ before making the announcement Wednesday. He did not mention who they consulted.

Rama said he can only hope that the President will take the same direction Barug is taking.

“We do not want to be the spokesperson of the President. We have to leave it to the President, but definitely, us in the local scene, we would wish that in the days to come, that whoever the President will anoint will be allied with us. We don’t dictate the President, we only pray and hope that he will also be with us in this direction and we always respect whatever position the President will take,” Rama said.

Rama and Marcos have been friends since the 1960s and he once told The Freeman that both of them have been “victims” of the PCOS machine. — KQD (FREEMAN)