Political bigwigs in Isabela threw their support for Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III who is being pushed to run as senator in next year’s elections.
Led by governor Rodolfo Albano III, executives in the province are rallying behind Bello even though he is yet undecided on the Senate run.
Filing of certificate of candidacy has started last October 1. Candidates have until October 8 to formally express their intention for the 2022 national polls.
However, the ruling party Partido Demokratiko ng Pilipinas (PDP) has already endorsed Bello as one of its senatorial candidates.
President Rodrigo Duterte has even named Bello earlier as among several performing cabinet secretaries whom he will help run for the Senate.
“Our province needs a representative in the Senate. That’s no one else but Manong Bebot,” Albano said during a caravan for national recovery organized by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Iligan City.
A son of Isabela, Bello will be the voice of the province in the upper chamber, according to vice governor Faustino Dy III.
“Isabela is the second largest province in the country. It deserves a strong presence in the Senate. Manong Bebot is that representation,” he added.
During the event, Both Albano and Dy called on the other local government officials to back Bello who has championed the welfare of Isabela through the programs of the government.
Isabela is one of the top beneficiaries of the many key assistance programs of DOLE led by the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) amid the pandemic.
“I know that we belong to different political parties but let’s unite for Secretary Bebot who has given so much assistance to our people during the crisis,” Albano said.
“Let’s carry an Isabelino to the higher place. Anak ng Isabela si Manong Bebot. Sariling atin ‘to,” Dy added.
Responding to the call, Isabela mayors and other local leaders led by Ilagan City Mayor Jose Marie Diaz vowed to support Bello.
Bello is being pushed by other local leaders to run for the Senate in the May 2022 elections during his trips to various localities in the countryside to distribute financial aid to workers affected by the pandemic.
“My priority is to deliver the help of the government to our needy countrymen, especially the workers hard-hit by Covid 19,” Bello said.
Source: Department of Labor and Employment