MANILA, Philippines — The alliance between former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte-Carpio is a “UniTeam,” the latter’s spokesperson said.
Marcos Jr. announced Tuesday night the “Bongbong-Inday Sara” ticket for next year’s presidential and vice-presidential elections.
“The alliance between the candidates for president, Bongbong Marcos, and vice president, Sara Duterte, is a UniTeam,” Liloan Mayor Christina Frasco, Duterte-Carpio’s spokesperson, said in a text message when asked if the Davao City mayor has decided to have the former senator as her runningmate.
For context, this was asked prior to Marcos Jr.’s official announcement of the ticket.
In a video statement Tuesday night, Duterte-Carpio appealed for unity from the public, saying that her objective is not only to continue what President Rodrigo Duterte has started but to also improve on them.
“The people will make me strong. And it is through our solidarity and unity that we will be able to build a stronger nation,” Duterte-Carpio said.
Duterte-Carpio also bared calling the support of political parties for her and Marcos Jr.’s candidacy. Notably, PDP-Laban, the political party of her father, President Rodrigo Duterte, allegedly rejected it.
“Ang aking partido ay nakipag-alyansa at humingi ng suporta para kay Bongbong Marcos at para sa akin matapos kong tanggapin ang inyong hamon at panawagan. Tinanggihan ito ng PDP at naiintindihan natin ito,” Duterte-Carpio said in a video statement.
(Our party made an alliance and is seeking support for myself and Bongbong Marcos after I accepted the challenge to run. PDP-Laban rejected this and we understand.)
“Pero gusto ko lamang na linawin — walang pangalan na sinisira o dinudungisan, walang sinasagasaan, walang inaagrabyado, inaaway, pinapaiyak o inaapi,” she added.
(But I want to clarify, we are not ruining anybody’s name and we are not making anybody cry.)