ILOILO City – Presidential daughter Sara Duterte has endorsed Cong. Arthur “Toto” Defensor Jr., candidate for Iloilo governor, and Cong. Jerry Treñas, candidate for city mayor.
Defensor (3rd District, Iloilo) confirmed that he and other select congressmen had lunch with the mayor of Davao City Friday last week in Quezon City and after it they each had the opportunity to have a photo with President Rodrigo Duterte’s daughter.
She raised his hand, said Defensor who’s rival for governor is Cong. Ferjenel Biron (4th District, Iloilo) of the Nacionalista Party (NP).
Mayor Duterte heads Hugpong ng Pagbabago, a Davao-based regional political party which has alliances with other political parties such as the NP.
Defensor, who is running for governor under President Duterte’s Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), welcomed the endorsement.
“I am grateful. The endorsement is a big thing for me,” said the son of Iloilo governor Arthur Defensor Sr.
He viewed the endorsement as the vote of confidence in him by the national leadership.
Defensor also said his being affiliated with the Duterte administration meant having the opportunity to bring many programs and projects to Iloilo.
“Kon malapit ikaw, mas madamo ikaw madara nga mehora,” he stressed.
Defensor aims for the continuity and completion of programs and projects of his father’s administration such as the international container port terminal in Dumangas town and the expansion of the Iloilo International Airport, the gateway of Iloilo province to the country and the world.
He also vowed the further development of the province’s tourism industry, especially in the 5th District.
Meanwhile, Treñas welcomed Mayor Duterte’s support.
“I am very appreciative of the support of Mayor Sara Duterte. I know that with her backing, we will be able to continue the development happening in Iloilo City,” said Treñas./PN
