UniTeam presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. needs someone like Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) vice-presidential bet Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte to become a good President, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said Monday night.
Arroyo, who was also celebrating her 75th birthday on Tuesday, formalized her endorsement of the VP bid of Duterte, who succeeded the country’s 14th President as chairperson of Lakas-CMD.
Arroyo, who is running unopposed for Congress in Pampanga’s second district, and Duterte were together on stage in a campaign rally in front of thousands in Lubao, when the former began to talk about the upcoming May 9 polls.
“Kaya ngayon naman, tiyakin natin na UniTeam ang tutulungan natin (So now, let’s ensure that we help the UniTeam),” Arroyo said, as she thanked her “kabalen” for supporting her and electing then-Senator Noli de Castro as the country’s vice president in the 2004 elections.
“Kailangan ni BBM (Bongbong Marcos), kahit matalino siya, para maging magaling na presidente, kailangan niya si Mayor Inday Sara Duterte bilang bise presidente. ‘Yun ang isang dahilan bakit ine-endorse natin si Mayor Sara,” added Arroyo, who was vice president to President Joseph Estrada from 1998 to 2001.
Duterte, daughter of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, is a multi-term Davao City mayor who became Lakas-CMD chairperson just before launching her bid for the country’s second-highest elective post.
Throughout the campaign, Sara Duterte has repeatedly mentioned how Davao became the eighth richest city in the country and cleared its debt under her watch.
“Pangalawa, sa laki ng tulong naman ni Presidente Rody Duterte dito sa atin sa Pampanga (Second, because the President has helped us so much here in Pampanga),” Arroyo said, citing another reason why she prefers the lady mayor for VP.
“Kaya suklian natin siya… Dapat landslide si Inday Sara (Let’s pay it back… Inday Sara should win by a landslide,” said Arroyo, who was also House Speaker from 2018 to 2019 and could return to that post in the next Congress.
