Vice President Jejomar Binay has lost another major ally 10 days before the May 9 elections after Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla decided to leave the United Nationalist Alliance for the camp of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

Remulla, who used to be Binay’s spokesperson, met with Duterte and other key members of the mayor’s campaign team Friday noon in Pasay City. He was wearing a red shirt, a color associated with the feisty local chief executive.

The governor’s presence in the meeting with Duterte virtually confirmed speculation that he had parted ways with Binay ahead of election day.

During the third and final PiliPinas presidential debate in Pangasinan, the Vice President fanned the flames of gossip that Remulla was no longer his ally when he failed to mention the outgoing governor as among the politikos he will appoint to his Cabinet should he win the presidential race.

In previous instances, Binay had been vocal about his plan to appoint Remulla, who is not running for reelection, as Interior and Local Government Secretary should he become president.

The governor’s departure is seen to be a big blow to the Vice President’s campaign since Cavite is the top vote-rich province in Luzon, with a voting population of 1.8 million.