MISAMIS Occidental local officials, led by Governor Philip Tan, expressed full support to Lakas-CMD chairman Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte’s vice presidential bid.

Mayor Sara visited the province during her Mahalin Natin ang Pilipinas Ride.

“We are 100 percent supporting Mayor Sara’s vice presidential bid,” Tan said after he and some officials from his province met with Mayor Sara.

Tan, who has long known Sara, said he appreciates the mayor’s character from a colleague’s perspective.

“We are old friends. We were colleagues at the League of City Mayors. Buotan si Mayor Sara. Masaligan, matinud-anon and down-to-earth. Angay nato siyang botohan ug suportahan,” he added.

“Mayor Sara is kind, dependable…We should vote for her,” he said.

On the 26th day of Mayor Sara’s Mahalin Natin Ang Pilipinas Ride, she re-entered Mindanao through Dipolog from the Iloilo stopover where she and presidential candidate Bongbong Marcos conducted a series of sorties.

Gov. Tan said the country needs Mayor Sara’s leadership.

“She is strong-willed. She has political will. She is sincere and committed to public service,” the governor said.

Mayor Sara is the vice presidential candiate of Lakas-CMD and Hugpong ng Pagbabago.

In 2019, the province voted straight to all Hugpong ng Pagbabago’s senatorial line. This year, the governor said they “will try their best” to do the same.

“We will do our best to replicate the 2019 elections 12-0 votes for senatoriables under the UniTeam,” he said.

For her part, Mayor Sara thanked the governor and local leaders for their support to all candidates under the UniTeam ticket.

“Nagpasalamat ko sa inyohang tanan sa inyohang pagdala sa amoa sa UniTeam sa Misamis Occidental,” Mayor Sara said.

ZAMBOANGA PENINSULA GOES FOR SARA

Meanwhile, Mayor Sara got assurance of support from the people of Zamboanga Peninsula.

During Mayor Sara’s Mahalin Natin ang Pilipinas Ride, she met local officials from Zamboanga provinces.

She first met with Pagadian City Mayor Samuel Co, who was with Sibugay First District Representative Wilter “Sharky” Palma II and their local party Arangkada Pusong Asenso provincial and local slates.

Vice Governor aspirant Priscilla “Ilang-Ilang” Co said that they “commit to support” Mayor Sara’s vice presidential bid.

“We commit to support her. We want continuity of President Rodrigo Duterte’s programs,” Co said.

In a separate event, Mayor Sara met with Zamboanga del Sur Governor Victor Yu, his wife First District Representative Divina Grace Yu and the local officials of the province.

The governor thanked Duterte for her help to Yu’s team in the 2019 elections.

“Ako lang i-emphasize nga magpasalamat ta kang Mayor Sara sa iyang suporta last election nga nakapadaog nato halos tanang Team Yu diri sa Zamboanga del Sur,” governor Yu said.

Yu called on his constituents to show the Davao City mayor the love and support she needs for her vice presidential bid.

Mayor Sara is the chairman of Lakas-CMD and Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP). Several national and local parties, like PDP-Laban and People’s Reform Party have adopted her as their vice presidential candidate.

According to Mayor Sara, she needs the elected leaders to support her advocacy in uniting the Filipinos especially after elections.

She also thanked the supporters who lined up on the streets and joined the crowd in all her activities for the day.

House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco accompanied Mayor Sara during the MNPR in Mindanao.