Boycott threat vs Salceda on presidential issue fizzles out

By Manuel T. Ugalde

The planned boycott move against Albay 2nd District Representative Joey Salceda fizzled out after he changed his mind on who to support among the presidential candidates.

The boycott move was hatched a month before the filing of the Certificate of Candidacy in October 2021 for the May 2022 election, when Salceda openly demonstrated his support for the presidential ambition of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.

Joventino Roquid, 74, a retired US navy officer and the group’s coordinator, said that boycott move was initiated by members of the ragtag group of senior citizens in Legazpi City who were offended over Salceda’s open endorsement of Mayor Duterte’s presidential ambition, despite the strong possibility then that Vice President Leni Robredo would join the presidential race.

At that time, the senior citizens group was already pushing for Robredo’s candidacy, claiming that the time is too ripe for the country to have a president from the Bicol region. Businessman Eduardo Jovero, 73, a group member, in his social media post, lambasted Salceda for his support for Mayor Duterte.

Many Albayanos shared the group’s sentiments. Robredo supporters in the province even threatened local officials who were identified to be supportive of other presidential bets of electoral debacle.

Group members were however elated seeing Salceda publicly endorsing the candidacy of VP Leni Robredo during a press conference in Polangui, Albay. The former, however, backed the vice presidential bid of Mayor Duterte, instead of Robredo’s running mate, Sen. Kiko Pangilinan.