Presidential candidate Isko Moreno led throngs of supporters clad in green in chanting "Allahu Akbar" (God is great) during a multi-day campaign swing in Central Mindanao where local leaders are supporting Sara Duterte-Carpio for vice president, not his own running mate.
Moreno's vice presidential bet, social media-savvy doctor Willie Ong, skipped the sorties earlier this week on the advice of his campaign manager Lito Banayo, who saw it prudent to avoid embarassing Ong with the sight of the "Isko-Sara" tarps.
"That's the reality we have to live with," Banayo told ANC's "After the Fact", referring to the dynamics of electing the Philippines' president and vice president, whom voters choose separately instead of as a tandem.
"Yun ang dynamics na mahirap," Banayo said, citing the example of Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, who could be put on the spot when asked to endorse a tandem when her vice mayor, Gian Sotto, is the son of vice presidential candidate Tito Sotto.
Banayo also cited instances when local leaders would endorse Vice President Leni for President, but not her running mate, Sen. Kiko Pangilinan.
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Ong told TV Patrol he felt "hurt" by the circumstances. Banayo said
"Syempre na-hurt ako masakit yun e. I understsand where it comes from pero tiis lang ako. Wala kong complaint. Go lang ako," Ong told ABS-CBN's TV Patrol.
Duterte-Carpio is the political heiress of outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte who is leading in the surveys and was tipped as the strongest candidate to succeed her father until she agreed to be the running mate of Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.