CEBU, Philippines – It’s still Vice President Jejomar Binay for Toledo City Mayor and former senator John Henry Osmeña.

After welcoming presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday, April 2, Osmeña told reporters during a press conference that while he is not endorsing the Davao City mayor, he “will not exert effort to stop anyone from campaigning nor tell anyone who to vote for.”

John Osmeña’s brother and former Cebu governor Lito Osmeña had previously endorsed Duterte. 

Binay had visited Toledo a week prior, where Osmeña had announced his support for him and the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA). 

Saturday’s visit to Cebu was Duterte’s 4th since the campaigns began. 

In previous visits to the province, Duterte lamented that despite being a Cebuano, local leaders would not support him. (READ: How to win Cebu: Bisaya kinship, social networks in Duterte campaign)

But during Duterte’s rallies after the last presidential debates on March 20, Talisay City Mayor Johnny de los Reyes and Cordova Mayor Arleigh Sitoy of the Liberal Party (LP) both decided to back the Davao mayor publicly.  

Cebu is a vote rich province of 2.7 million voters. A majority of the municipal and city mayors belong to the ruling LP. 

Duterte traces his roots to Danao City in northern Cebu, but did not get an official endorsement from the Durano clan’s Bakud party, despite his being a relative. This is because presidential rival Grace Poe’s campaign manager is Cebu’s Fifth District representative Ace Durano. 

Duterte’s campaign slogan in Cebu is “Bisaya napud!” (Let’s have another Bisaya) (READ: Rodrigo Duterte in Cebu: It’s time for a new Visayan hero)

Most Philippine presidents hail from Luzon, and Duterte said that it’s time for a president to advocate for development in the provinces. 

His running mate Alan Peter Cayetano said, “Cebu is the best example of why federalism would work.” He added that if there is “so much development” in Cebu without federalism, even more could be accomplished with a federal system. 

After visiting Toledo City Hall, Duterte appeared at a rally in Parola, and a women’s rights event, and a motorcycle enthusiasts meet in Cebu City.  

On Sunday, April 3, he will go campaigning in neighboring Bohol and on Monday, April 4, in Dumaguete City. – Rappler.com