A classmate of President Benigno Aquino III, Albay Gov. Joey Salceda officially junked administration standard bearer Manuel Roxas II on Friday night in favor of presidential aspirant Senator Grace Poe.
Announcing his decision on Facebook despite being a member of the Liberal Party over the past six years, Salceda said that he would support Poe to prevent Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte from winning the presidency.
“I am Governor Salceda and my President is Grace Poe. She shares our values of authentic humanism, shares our goals of countryside development and national competitiveness and certainly her compassion will ensure that the impacts will be shared by all,” Salceda said.
“For the good of Albay, for the good of all Albayanos, and for the future of my country, it is my duty to join ang Gobyernong may Puso,” he added.
A former stalwart of the Lakas-CMD who supported the candidacy of former Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s “anointed one,” Salceda turncoated and supported the candidacy of his “classmate” in the Ateneo de Manila University, then Senator Benigno Aquino III and running mate Manuel Roxas II during the 2010 elections.
Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian, spokesman of Poe’s Partido Galing at Puso, said that the female solon was elated when she learned of this development.
“Senator Poe is thankful to the good governor for his support of her candidacy,” Gatchalian said. “She is steadfast in fighting for those who have been left behind, those that have not felt the growth of our economy.”
In the coming days, Gatchalian added, they would expect more public servants with the same vision to join the “Gobyernong May Puso” bandwagon.
“Senator Poe is extremely excited to be working with Governor Salceda who brings to the table a wealth of economic expertise,” he said.
During the LP’s kick-off tour in Bicol Region, Salceda — then the LP’s provincial chair in Albay praised Roxas and the “straigth path” for its priority programs for which the province particularly benefitted, including the construction of classrooms, healthcare benefits and increase in tourism targets.
Roughly a month later, he floated the idea his province may junk Roxas following the failure of Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya to act the Bicol International Airport project.
Roxas, in an interview with reporters during the sidelines of the campaign trail in Pagadian City vehemently denied Salceda’s claims, adding that he’s not afraid to lose Albay because he’s “sticking with the truth.”
Salceda, who is running for a congressional seat for Albay’s second district urged Abaya earlier this month to hasten the awarding of the contract for phase 2A of the Bicol International Airport project, which would cover the construction of landside facilities.
Salceda did not show up during the LP’s “loyalty check” meeting last April 14 at the Club Filipino in San Juan citing the Palarong Pambansa that his province hosted, but he vehemently denied jumping to the camp of either Poe or Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.
In dropping Roxas, Salceda also junked another “Bicolana” — Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo in favor of a “Bicolano,” Senator Francis Escudero.
“I’m saddened because we’ve been together in the past but I still respect his decision. It happens all the time, when someone goes, there are people who come along, that’s it. Our families have been in many elections in the past, that’s part of the process.
Downplaying Salceda’s move as “good riddance,” former Rep. Edcel Lagman and Legazpi City Mayor Noel Rosal, who issued a joint statement Friday night, said that the admin bets would still “win overwhelmingly” in the province.
“Joey Salceda is alone in his decision. The Liberal Party of the First District of Albay stands solidly behind Mar. Joey Salceda is running in the 2nd District where Legazpi City is located. Legazpi City comprised 50% of the 2nd District of Albay which fully supports Mar Roxas. Roxas will win overwhelmingly in Albay.”
“Salceda has not unexpectedly gone beyond the pale with his most recent act of political turncoatism. He did a 180 degree turnaround in 2010 when he junked partymate Gibo Teodoro for PNoy (President Benigno Aquino III). A turncoat recidivist will always be a liability anyway. Good riddance to Salceda,” Lagman added.