Duranaos Stand By G1BO Teodoro..
By Elias O. Baquero
THE Bakud Party headed by Danao City Mayor Ramon “Nito” Durano III has decided to support Lakas-Kampi presidential candidate Gilberto Teodoro Jr., Rep. Ramon “Red” Durano VI said yesterday.
It will also support Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas II for the vice presidency, although he is running with the Liberal Party. Tourism Secretary Joseph “Ace” Durano was Roxas’s colleague in the House of Representatives.
Bakud also released a partial list of six senatorial candidates they will support: Rep. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., Sen. Pia Cayetano and Ramon Mitra III of the Nacionalista Party; Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile (Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino); Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago (People’s Reform Party); and Sen. Bong Revilla (Lakas-Kampi-CMD).
Bakud announced its choices during yesterday’s consultations with fifth district mayors and party leaders.
The Duranos belong to the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), Teodoro’s original political party founded by business tycoon and former presidential candidate Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco.
The NPC has not fielded a presidential candidate this year, although one of its members, Sen. Loren Legarda, is running for vice president as the running mate of the
Nacionalista Party’s Sen. Manuel “Manny” Villar.
Congressman Durano clarified the Duranos will continue to support Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia and her running mate, Glenn Anthony Soco, for governor and vice governor. Bakud has an alliance with One Cebu, but this does not extend to candidates for national positions.
One Cebu has declared its support for Teodoro, Legarda and 11 Senate candidates from six parties.
Congressman Durano explained that Bakud is supporting Teodoro because they believe he has the capability and clear vision to run the country.
“Nowadays, we have to choose whom we support and we have finally decided to support Gibo for president, Mar Roxas for vice president and the six senatorial candidates that I mentioned earlier,” he said.
He said the party chose Cayetano, Enrile, Santiago and Revilla because they have contributed something for the development of the fifth district.
They are also supporting Marcos because his track record in the House of Representatives shows he deserves to be a senator. As for Mitra, the Duranos believe in his capability as a lawmaker and his sincerity to deliver his campaign promises, the congressman said.
