Ilocanos have been marking the birthday of their “Apo Lakay,” former President Ferdinand Marcos, every Sept. 11. In this file photo, Gov. Matthew Manotoc leads the wreath laying at a statue of his grandfather in Batac, Ilocos Norte, last year.
(Photo courtesy of Alaric Yanos/Ilocos Norte Governor’s Office)
LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte—The Marcos family expressed elation over the alliance between the candidacies of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Sara Duterte in the 2022 elections that had been made official, said Ilocos Norte Gov. Matthew Marcos Manotoc.
Marcos Jr. and Duterte are seeking the top two highest elective posts in the country as president and vice president, respectively.
In a press briefing Wednesday, Manotoc said his “entire family [had] been working on [making the alliance official] for a few weeks, especially with Sen. Imee Marcos na kilala natin na kaibigan ni [whom we know is a friend of] Mayor Sara.” Imee is the mother of Manotoc.
He said they were “glad that this partnership has come about.”
Manotoc said his family would not “be complacent” in the 2022 polls as “Philippine elections are so unpredictable” and considering the loss of Marcos Jr. for the vice-presidency in 2016.
Manotoc hoped that support for Marcos Jr. would not only come from the “north” but nationwide.
The governor, who is seeking a second term, is running against veteran politician Rodolfo “Rudy” Fariñas, who formalized his bid to run for the position by beating the candidate substitution deadline on Monday, Nov. 15.
Manotoc hoped that the intent of the elder Fariñas to run for the position would be “sincere this time around.”
In 2019, Fariñas sought to run as governor but dropped his bid at the last minute, which left Manotoc to run unopposed.