Campaign Manager of Alyansa Para Sa Pagbabago Issues Statement amid Viral Photo of Camille Villar, Sara Duterte
Alyansa’s campaign manager Toby Tiangco reacted to the viral photo of the alliance’s bet, Las Piñas Representative Camille Villar, with Vice President Sara Duterte.
The May 2024 Elections are fast-approaching. Both local and national elections are set to be held on May 12. However, a few weeks ahead of the midterm polls, the controversial and unexpected arrest of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has caused political turmoil in the Philippines. The arrest of Duterte has seemingly brought a highlight on the souring relationship between Pres. Bongbong Marcos and Vice Pres. Sara Duterte.
Duterte was arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) upon his arrival from Hong Kong, detained at the Villamor Air Base for several hours, and flown to The Hague, Netherlands via Dubai on the same day. Following his arrest, Senator Imee Marcos skipped the grand rally of the Alyansa Para Sa Pagbabago in Tacloban.
Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar, the daughter of business tycoon Manny Villar and Sen. Cynthia Villar, who is also one of the Alyansa senatorial bets also skipped the alliance’s Tacloban campaign rally. In the case of Marcos, she was vocal that she could not accept what was done to Duterte.
Amid the controversy, both former Sen. Manny Villar and Sen. Cynthia Villar showed support on the side of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte. The business giant expressed his belief that the former President “deserves a fair trial” while his Senator wife expressed a disagreement on the Philippine government allegedly giving a former President to the foreigner.
Amid the stands of the Villars on the arrest of Duterte, the recent photo of former Sen. Manny Villar and his daughter Camille with Vice Pres. Sara Duterte add another confusion on several netizens. It was posted by former presidential spokesman Harry Roque on social media.
Recently, amid the public confusion, the campaign manager of the Alyansa Para sa Pagbabago, Toby Tiangco, broke his silence on the viral photo of Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar with her father, former Sen. Manny Villar, and Vice Pres. Sara Duterte.
Based on a report on PhilStar, Tiangco stressed that the Alyansa Para Sa Pagbabago remains intact. According to him, “the Alyansa candidates were personally chosen by President Marcos” with their strong experience in public service and their excellent capabilities as the main factors.
The Alyansa’s campaign manager further expressed that their goal is for all of the candidates of the team to win. Previously, Pres. Marcos tagged the senatorial slate of the grand alliance as his “dream team”.
“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,” Tiangco said.
Based on the report, the Alyansa’s campaign manager also said that every endorsement is allegedly a support for the Bagong Pilipinas which is pushed forward by Pres. Marcos. According to him, it is “what matters most”.
Previously, following Sen. Imee Marcos withdrawing from the grand alliance, Pres. Bongbong Marcos changed the chant of the Alyansa.