PDP LABAN FINALLY SPEAKS UP: President Duterte officially supports Atty. John Flores
Partido Demokratiko Pilipino – Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-LABAN), the ruling political party led by President Rodrigo Duterte, has reconfirmed their support for Atty. John Flores as their official bet for the Bukidnon District 2 congressional seat.
This, after a controversial photo of President Duterte alongside candidates Ignacio Zubiri and Atty. Roland Deticio was heavily circulated online. The photo was taken in front of the Men’s Dressing Room / Comfort Room at the backstage of the Capitol Stage in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon, on April 13, 2019, the same day the Kaamulan Festival Ethnic Street Dancing was held. President Duterte was the guest speaker that evening, where several senatorial candidates were also endorsed.
PDP Laban spokesman Ronwald Munsayac said that he was not aware of the photo but explained that the Kaamulan Festival was not their event and therefore things were not under their control.
“It was not a PDP LABAN event po kasi,” Munsayac said. He also confirmed that President Duterte and the PDP LABAN already officially showed support to Atty. John Flores and the rest of Team Flores during a political rally in Cagayan de Oro last March 24, 2019. Flores et al were invited to the said event and had official photos taken with the President.
“Atty. John Flores is an official PDP LABAN member and in fact, is our provincial chairman. That means that regardless of any other photos, President Duterte and the party confirms that he is our official candidate for the 2nd District of Bukidnon,” he said.
The controversial photo garnered a massive amount of negative feedback. Facebook commenters said that the President didn’t look happy and it appeared that the two candidates were the ones who raised Duterte’s hands. The commenters even said that the President may have been ambushed and that the President was just being courteous to the hosts.
Other online commenters also criticized the fact that the photo was taken at the vicinity of the men’s dressing room / comfort room and that it was not before the public.
When sought for comment, candidate for Bukidnon District 2 congressman Atty. John Flores said that he was “just chill” about the photo.
“We know the truth. The President knows the truth. The PDP LABAN knows the truth. God knows the truth. Let the people decide for themselves. Pili-ay ni, dili but-anay,” he said.
Meanwhile, Presidential daughter and Davao Mayor Sara Duterte has also officially endorsed Atty. John Flores, Doc Boy Flores and the Team Flores councilors via a Hugpong ng Pagbabago rally in Malaybalay last April 23, 2019 where thousands were in attendance.
