7 Albay mayors back VP Leni's bid

By Mavic Conde

Seven more mayors in Albay have made their support public for Vice President Leni Robredo's presidential bid and her running mate Senator Kiko Pangilinan.

The local executives who made the endorsement in a joint signed statement dated Oct. 28 are the following: Mayors Armando “Dinky” Romano of Bacacay; Ann Gemma Ongjoco of Guinobatan; Wilfredo “Das” Maronilla of Libon; Lenybelle Ceriola-Santos of Malinao; Alan R. Arandia of Pio Duran; Ronald “Boy” Galicia of Rapu-Rapu; and Mayor Jaime “Ami” Villanueva of Tiwi.

The mayors said in the joint statement that they firmly believe in the Robredo and Pangilinan tandem because both “[are] truly qualified and sincerely motivated to effectively realize" the solutions needed for Filipinos to have better quality of life.

According to the statement, these include focusing on the marginalized and disadvantaged; respect for human rights and freedom of the press; elevating official integrity and accountability to prevent graft and corruption; and effective Covid-19 response not only to protect and save lives, but also to rescue the Philippine economy and the sectors most affected by the pandemic.