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Andanar not keen on running for public office

March 20, 2022 People's Tonight 247 views

REJOINING the private media is among the plans of acting presidential spokesperson and Communications Secretary Martin Andanar when the Duterte administration winds up its six-year term in June.

Running for public office is not a priority, he reiterated in an online show.

“Sa ngayon po (As of now), there is no compelling reason for me to run for public office because hindi ko naman talaga linya yung pagtakbo na ‘yan (running for public office is not in my line of work),” he said during the “Ask Me Anything, Anywhere” segment aired on his Facebook page.

He was previously urged to run for national and local posts but noted that it was not in his list of priorities.

“Marami nang pagkakataon na tayo ay kinausap na tumakbo whether as congressman, governor, senator. Nagpapasalamat ako dun sa mga kaibigan natin na may tiwala sa ‘tin, mga taong naniniwala sa aking kakahayan (There were many instances where I was asked to run, whether as congressman, governor, senator. I am thankful to our friends who have faith in me, who believe in my abilities),” he added.

Andanar, however, is fully supporting his wife, Alelee, who is the first nominee of the Bisaya Gyud (BG) party-list.

“I’m not running for election but my wife is running for Congress sa (under the) BG party-list 108,” he said.

Alelee is one of the daughters of the late Las Piñas City mayor Vergel “Nene” Aguilar.

Senator Cynthia Villar is Aguilar’s sister.

Vote for Padilla, Belgica, Villar

Meanwhile, Andanar urged the voters to support the Senate bids of actor Robin Padilla, former Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) Chair Greco Belgica, and former Public Works Secretary Mark Villar on May 9 polls.

“Iboboto ko si Robin Padilla bilang senador. Robin Padilla, huwag niyo kalimutan ‘yan (I will vote for Robin Padilla as senator. Robin Padilla, don’t forget his name),” he said.

He said he will also vote for his “friend” Belgica and urged his viewers to “give him a chance” to get a seat in the Senate.

“Kaibigan ko ‘yan si Greco. Napakabait niyan, napakasipag, talagang anti-corruption drive ‘yan. Bigyan niyo naman ng chance (Greco is my friend. He’s kind, hardworking, and going all out in his anti-corruption drive. Give him a chance,” he said.

Andanar spoke highly of Mark Villar, citing infrastructure projects in Santa Monica, Surigao del Norte.

“Ang laking tulong ho na naibigay ni Mark Villar sa amin dun sa Sta. Monica sa Siargao. Ilang project ang ibinuhos niya dun. Napakaganda na po ng Sta. Monica (Mark Villar provided huge help in Sta. Monica in Siargao. He spearheaded a lot of projects there. Sta. Monica is so beautiful now),” he added.

Last month, President Rodrigo Duterte said he will endorse the senatorial bid of Padilla, Belgica, Villar as well as former Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo.

Both Panelo and Padilla are running under the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) backed by the President.

Villar is running under the Nacionalista Party, while Belgica is under the Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan, which is allied with Duterte’s PDP-Laban. PNA)

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