Calasiao, Pangasinan—The call for President Rodrigo Duterte to run for Vice President in the 2022 national elections gathered an “avalanche” of supporters here.
More than 70 local government officials, representing multi-party and multi-sectoral groups in the province of Pangasinan, have signed a petition to urge the President to continue his socio-economic objectives disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic by running for vice president.
Vice Governor Mark Ronald Lambino said: “Pangasinan was badly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic especially its tourism sector, but the province is confident that with President Duterte’s continued leadership, a speedy recovery of the economy can be achieved.”
In the same forum, the petition was initiated by Bayambang Mayor Cezar Quiambao and was unanimously carried by the participants in the multi-party coalition assembly organized by Presidential Adviser for Northern Luzon Secretary Raul Lambino.
In his motion, Quiambao said: “The Province of Pangasinan and the country are better off with the policy of continuity to avoid the patterns of unrealized economic objectives and half-done infrastructure projects discontinued every transition of power after every election.”
Meanwhile, the call to urge Duterte to run as Vice President was echoed by the Sangguniang Bayan and the Liga ng mga Barangay of the Municipality of Mangaldan in separate resolutions.
The resolutions, signed by all 30 village leaders and 10 councilors led by Mayor Marilyn Lambino, stated: “The entire bureaucracy of the Mangaldan, Pangasinan is optimistic that President Rodrigo Duterte will capitulate to the call of the people in a loud voice for him to run as Vice President in adherence to the Latin maxim ‘Salus Populi est Suprema Lex,’ as his victory will lead to the welfare of the whole nation.”
Among the attendees was Rep. Ramon “MonMon” Guico III of Pangasinan’s 5th District and other mayors, vice mayors, board members, and barangay captains.