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Doc Willie OK with adopted bet Castriciones’ support of Sara

By Marita Moaje

March 4, 2022, 8:02 pm

<p><strong>FRIENDS.</strong> Senatorial candidate John Castriciones and Aksyon Demokratiko vice-presidential bet Willie Ong (1st and 2nd from left) talk to reporters during a campaign sortie in Isabela province on Friday (March 4, 2022). They said they get along well even if Castriciones is an adopted candidate of Ong’s party but supports another VP bet, Sara Duterte.<em> (Photo courtesy of PTV)</em></p>

FRIENDS. Senatorial candidate John Castriciones and Aksyon Demokratiko vice-presidential bet Willie Ong (1st and 2nd from left) talk to reporters during a campaign sortie in Isabela province on Friday (March 4, 2022). They said they get along well even if Castriciones is an adopted candidate of Ong’s party but supports another VP bet, Sara Duterte. (Photo courtesy of PTV)

MANILA – Aksyon Demokratiko vice-presidential bet Willie Ong and the party’s adopted senatorial candidate, former Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary John Castriciones, are getting along well in campaign sorties despite the latter openly supporting a rival bet.

Castriciones previously endorsed Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte for vice president.

In an interview during their visit to Isabela province on Friday, Ong, popularly known as Doc Willie, said he saw the good work put in by Castriciones as DAR chief.

He said he also heard that President Rodrigo Duterte urged Castriciones to run for the Senate in 2019 but he opted to stay at DAR.

Dahil sa mga pinakita niya, tingin ko magiging magaling na senador. May endorsement pa siya ni President. Ako po unconditional ang tulong ko kay Sec. John. Kung anuman ang desisyon ni Sec. John, ok lang sa akin (Because of what he did, I think he will become a good senator. I saw that he was endorsed by the President. I will help for Sec. John unconditionally and I am oky with his decision). I’m very happy. He’s a very good person,” Ong told reporters.

Castriciones heads the Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte National Executive Coordinating Committee, which is backing Ong’s running mate, Aksyon Demokratiko standard bearer Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso.

Castriciones, who is affiliated with the ruling party PDP-Laban, also had good words for Ong.

“Doc Willie is a very good man. Makikita mo sa kanya na hindi siya ‘yung taong talagang nag-iimpose ng kaniyang gusto sa tao (You will see in him that he is not the kind of person who will impose his preferences),” he said.

He added that he is lucky to have known Ong.

“Ako I’m finding a very good friend at dahil diyan ay nakikita ko na meron siyang talagang pagmamahal sa mga maliliit na tao lalong lalo na yung kaniyang posisyon as doctor. Kitang kita natin na talagang tapat siya sa paglilingkod sa ating mamamayan (and I can see how he loves the people, especially the poor. You can see that in his services a doctor. We can see that he is honest in serving the people),” Castriciones said. (PNA)

 

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