Albay’s Joey Salceda shifts support from Mar Roxas to Grace Poe

Albay Governor Joey Salceda has withdrawn his support for administration standard bearer Mar Roxas and announced his support for independent presidential candidate Senator Grace Poe.

Salceda announced his decision despite being a member of the Liberal Party over the past six years.

"I am Governor Salceda and my President is Grace Poe. She shares our values of authentic humanism, shares our goals of countryside development and national competitiveness and certainly her compassion will ensure that the impacts will be shared by all," Salceda said in a Facebook post.

"For the good of Albay, for the good of all Albayanos, and for the future of my country, it is my duty to join ang Gobyernong may Puso," he added.

Salceda said he was now running without a party—just like Poe and her running mate Senator Francis Escudero.

"On the ministerial aspect, I am informing the Comelec that I am now running as an independent," SaIceda said.

Salceda was wearing the LP's color yellow when he filed his certificate of candidacy.

The camp of Senator Grace Poe on Friday welcomed Albay Governor Joey Salceda's defection from the Liberal Party to support her candidacy.

Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian, Poe's spokesperson, expressed gratitude for Salceda's support and called him the senator's "new ally" in carrying out the task of fighting for those who have been left behind and unable to feel the country's economic growth.

He said the senator is "extremely excited" to be working with Salceda because of his economic expertise.

"Together, Senator Poe and Governor Salceda will fight the battle to make our economic growth inclusive making sure that no Filipino is left behind. The good governor will also be working with Senator Poe in improving the competitiveness and investment climate of the country," Gatchalian said. —with a report from Xianne Arcangel/NB, GMA News