ELECTED officials of Pasay City, from their congressman, mayor to barangay leaders, on Wednesday declared their support for Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) vice presidential candidate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.

They made the declaration during a huge rally at the Cuneta Astrodome that was attended by more than 10,000 local and barangay officials, and city residents.

“Alam niyo po, napakapalad nating lahat dahil nandidito na po ang mga tao talaga na mayroong puso para tayo ay tapat na paglingkuran, at siyempre sobra ring napakapalad natin dahil nabisita tayo ng isa ring mayora at tiyak na susunod na bise presidente ng Pilipinas, walang iba kung hindi si Mayor Inday Sara Duterte,” Mayor Emi Calixto Rubiano told her constituents as Duterte immediately thanked her and other local officials for supporting her vice presidential bid.

“Dahil po sa init ninyong binigay na pagkakataon upang makita at mas makilala kayo ng mga taga-Pasay, siguradong sumusuporta at susuportahan kayo ng mga taga-Pasay. Si Mayor Inday Sara ay napakasipag, mayroon po siyang puso para sa masa at nagbibigay ng oras para mapakinggan ang mga hinaing ng bawat mamamayan. Gaya ng kanyang ama walang iba kundi ang ating Pangulo Rodrigo Roa Duterte,” she said.

She said that like her father, Mayor Sara would help Pasay City respond to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and address its other concerns.

“Nakakasiguro tayo sa suporta ni Mayor Inday Sara, yan ang kailangan nating lahat,” she added.

The mayor appealed to voters to “choose someone who is service- driven and who shows the same type of leadership (as President Duterte), so that we can continue to grow and develop as a Filipino nation.”

For his part, Rep. Antonio Calixto said Team Calixto, from the mayor down to barangay leaders, will support Duterte.

“Ang Team Calixto ay nakikiusap po sa inyo, na dinala niya ang pagbabago at darating pa ang tunay na pagbabago pag siya ay nahalal bilang vice president ng ating bansa,” he said.

“Kaya ako sampu ng ang aking mga kasama ay nakikiusap sa inyong lahat sa araw na ito na tangkilikin po natin ang atin pong maganda, mabait at matalinong susunod na magiging vice president ng ating bansa, walang iba kung hindi si Mayor Inday Sara Duterte,” he said.

Another official, Vice Mayor Noel del Rosario, said during the separate meet-and-greet with Baclaran and Pasay City Public Market vendors, “Dapat yes na yes kayo kay Vice President Sara Duterte at siyempre sa kanyang mga kasamang senador…alam ko naman na pag sinabi ng Team Calixto, alam niyo na hindi kayo dadalhin sa mali hindi kayo ipapahamak kailanman.”

Pasay City has 276,579 registered voters for 2022 elections.