Alyansa solid amid reported Duterte endorsement of Villar - Tiangco

Metro Manila, Philippines – The administration-backed Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial slate remains united despite online buzz surrounding the possible endorsement of Vice President Sara Duterte of House Deputy Speaker Camille Villar.

The statement follows the circulation of photos over the weekend showing Villar with Duterte and former Senate President Manny Villar, all doing the signature Duterte fist bump. Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque posted the photos on social media, but no official endorsement has been made public.

Re-electionist Senator Imee Marcos was also seen with PDP-Laban president Senator Robin Padilla over the weekend after she backed out from the administration-backed senatorial slate.

Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco, Alyansa campaign manager, said the alliance is solid.

“The five-party Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas composed of Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), Lakas-CMD, National People’s Coalition (NPC), National Unity Party (NUP), and Nacionalista Party (NP) is intact,” Tiangco said in a statement Monday.

“Our candidates continue to receive overwhelming support both at the national and local level, and even from grassroots organizations. This is something that we welcome and we are proud of because politics is about addition, not division. It is about building coalitions. And in any election, every bit of support counts,” he said.

Tiangco described how the Alyansa candidates were handpicked.

“Ang mga kandidato ng Alyansa ay personal na pinili ni Pangulong Marcos dahil sa kanilang mahusay na kakayahan at matatag na karanasan,” he said.

[Translation: The candidates of Alyansa were personally chosen by President Marcos because of their strong abilities and solid experience]

“The Alyansa candidates are part of the administration slate because they are committed to the vision we all share: Bagong Pilipinas.”

He added that any expression of support toward Alyansa candidates, whether formal or symbolic, is a welcome affirmation of the coalition’s vision.

“One of our goals is to build broad support around the shared platform of Alyansa, and our overarching objective is for all our candidates to win because they are capable, committed, and deserving of the trust and confidence of the Filipino people.”

“Ang bawat pag-endorso na makukuha ng bawat kandidato ng Alyansa ay patunay na pagtanggap at pagyakap sa Bagong Pilipinas na isinusulong ng ating Pangulo,and that is what matters most.” Tiangco added.

[Translation: Every endorsement received by any Alyansa candidate is a recognition and embrace of the Bagong Pilipinas vision being championed by our President]