Mamba

NP, Gov. Mamba support for UniTeam welds ‘Solid North’

February 15, 2022 Ryan Ponce Pacpaco 572 views

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan – Governor Manuel Mamba has endorsed the presidential-vice presidential candidacies of former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. (BBM) of Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte of Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) in the May 9 national elections.

Mamba said his decision is expected to consolidate the so-called “Solid North”, the traditional bailiwick of the Marcoses, behind the BBM-Sara ticket.

Mamba said he was encouraged to support the Marcos-Duterte slate because the Nacionalista Party (NP), where the Cagayan governor belongs, has resolved to rally behind the tandem.

The Cagayan governor added that his support for Duterte was triggered by President Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte’s huge downloading of worthy projects to his province.

“Noon pa I was for Sara. I committed that to President Digong whether she runs for president or vice president,” Mamba said in an interview Tuesday afternoon at the Provincial Capitol here after meeting with Mayor Duterte who barnstormed Isabela and Cagayan provinces Tuesday.

Duterte arrived at 3:00 p.m. Tuesday at the Phoenix Gasoline Station, Enrile Avenue here for the inauguration of Kay Inday Sara Lilipad ang Pilipinas (KISLAP) Headquarters.

UniTeam senatorial candidate Harry Roque joined Duterte.

Duterte also led the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Sara Duterte Alliance (Masada) Headquarters at the Brickstone Mall Building here.

Mamba said Sen. Cynthia Villar called him on Sunday night to inform him that the NP is supporting the BBM-Duterte ticket.

The incumbent lady senator is the wife of former Sen. Manny Villar, who heads NP.

The Villars’ son Mark, who is a former secretary of Public Works and Highways, is among the senatorial candidates of Marcos and Mayor Duterte.

Before Mrs. Villar’s call, Mamba said many of his constituents had been asking who he would support in the May polls.

Mamba said he would abide by whoever his party would endorse.

The Cagayan governor added that he would back the candidacy of Mayor Duterte “as a show of gratitude to President Duterte, who has always supported Cagayan and the Cagayanos.”

“Ang daming ginawa ni President Digong dito sa Cagayan and Mayor Sara has been always helping us during our calamity days. We were hit by two super typhoons and a mega flood, Davao City has always been with us. Mayor Digong visited us five times, lahat ng aming kalamidad and support sa anti-insurgency and anti-drugs [ginawa niya]. These are some of our biggest problems and the dredging of the Cagayan river started in his (President Duterte) administration,” Mamba said.

“We presented our initiative, sinuportahan niya and idi-dredge namin, ngayon libre ang ating Cagayan river. So all of these things were initiated, talagang tinulungan kami ni Presidente,” Mamba, a former Liberal Party (LP) stalwart.

“I was not with him (President Duterte) in 2016. I was with Mar [Roxas], pero nakita ko na walang puli-pulitika sa kanya yung pangangailangan ng mga tao,” Mamba added.

Mamba called on his leaders and constituents to deliver the votes of their province to the BBM-Sara ticket on May 9.

Other political heavyweights in the North are expected to follow the Cagayan governor’s decision to support the Marcos-Duterte slate.

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