THE once mighty Partido ng Demokratiko Pilipino will support only five local candidates out of 14, 658 candidates vying for Northern Mindanao’s governors, vice governors, provincial board members, mayors, vice mayors, and councilor positions in the May 12 Senatorial and Local elections.
It was a far cry in the 2022 presidential elections where every Tom, Dick, and Harry running for the local elective positions were trying to join the administration party of former President Rodrigo Duterte, now in Hague, Netherlands facing the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity.
Senatorial aspirant Vic Rodriguez said the PDP is supporting former Iligan City Mayor Franklin Quijano, who is trying to get elected, and former Phividec Estate Administrator Pompee Laviña, who is running again for mayor of Cagayan de Oro after losing his 2022 bid.
Quijano, a former chairman of the National Commission of Senior Citizens, is a long-time ally of Duterte while Laviña was the former social media director of Duterte.
Rodriguez said the party will also support El Salvador town Mayor Mark William Tan and incumbent Councilor Joyleen Mercedes Balaba, Duterte’s long time friend, who is now running for her third term in the Cagayan de Oro City Council.
He said PDP is also supporting lawyer Bagani Llesis who is running for governor in Bukidnon.
Rodriguez said the party was decimated following the rift between the Dutertes and Marcoses in the recent months.
He said the PDP leadership decided that it would support only 9 senatorial candidates for the May 12 elections.
Rodriguez said the candidates that would be supported by the PDP are: Bong Go, Bato dela Rosa, lawyer and singer Jimmy Bondoc, lawyer Raul Lambino, movie actor Philip Salvador, lawyer Jayvee Hinlo, Rep. Rodante Marcoleta, Pastor Apollo Quiboloy and himself.
