ILOILO City – LOCAL officials in Western Visayas came in droves to Iloilo City Thursday afternoon to express their support to the UniTeam tandem of presidential candidate former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. and vice presidential candidate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.

Reelectionist President Roxas, Capiz Mayor Receliste Lachica Escolin confirmed the local officials’ support in a huddle with reporters after meeting with Duterte in Iloilo City, which was attended by provincial and other local officials from Region 6.

Asked categorically by a journalist about whether the “meet and greet” with Duterte at the Richmonde Hotel in Iloilo City, was an expression of support to the BBM-Sara tandem, Escolin said “yes.”

Escolin said the local officials and political leaders, who attended the meeting came from various provinces in Western Visayas, which is supposed to be a bailiwick of another presidential candidate.

“Sa ngayon ho… nandito kami no from Antique, Aklan, Capiz and Iloilo province, at ito ‘yung nandito ngayon talagang 100 percent na sumusuporta no sa BBM-Sara tandem no,” the mayor of President Roxas said.

“At saka ito na ‘yung hinihintay ng sambayanang Pilipino ‘yung BBM-Sara, na makaahon sa kahirapan ‘yung mamamayang Pilipino at tsaka ang lider na makakatulong at makakadala ng progreso sa buong pilipinas,” he added.

Escolin said local officials in Western Visayas decided to support Marcos and Duterte because they have seen how BBM and Sara have performed as officials and they expect them to deliver more as the country’s leaders.

“Nakita naman natin kung pano sila manerbisyo. Siguro sa darating na panahon, mas maganda pa ‘yung kalalabasan ng kanilang panerbisyo,” he said.

His trust in the Marcos-Duterte tandem prompted Esolin to even run as an independent.

“Unang una, alam naman natin na kung ano ang status ng Pilipinas ngayon. Kaya nga ako personally, tumakbo akong independent para at least maka suporta ng todo-todo sa mga kandidato na alam natin na sadyang makatulong,” Escolin said.

The mayor added that the support to the UniTeam tandem was very evident, even in the whole province of Capiz.

Among those who attended the meeting with Duterte were Governor Rhodora Cadiao and Vice Mayors Jun Jun Pacificador and Te Dionela all of Antique; Mayor Elvira Alarcon of Batad, Iloilo, Mayor Emerson Lachica of Kalibo, Aklan; Vice Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon of Iloilo, Mayor John Taroza of Zaraga, Iloilo and Mayor Junjun Jaen of Leganes, also of Iloilo, and other officials.