While attending the highlights of the Dinagyang Festival in Iloilo City over the weekend, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said the province of Iloilo, which was previously called “shabu-lized” and a “bedrock for illegal drugs” by President Rodrigo Duterte, is now considered a stronghold for the president’s party.

“The president now considers Iloilo and the rest of the Ilonggo-speaking areas as his bailiwick,” he said.

Earlier this month, Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor, Sr., joined by 5,000 other local officials, including his son, Iloilo third district Rep. Arthur Defensor, Jr., and Iloilo Provincial Board Member Lorenz, joined the ruling PDP-Laban during a ceremony at the Pototan Astrodome.

Back in August 2017, over 4,000 Iloilo officials joined the party in a ceremony at the Iloilo Convention Center.

During the 2016 presidential election, Duterte lost in the province to former Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas, who is originally from Capiz./WDJ