FILE PHOTO: Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
MANILA, Philippines — Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. again called for unity during the launch of his campaign for the 2022 elections, speaking before his supporters at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan for 20 minutes without mentioning any details about his plans for the country if ever he gets elected as president.
“Noong una akong nagpahayag ng aking balak na ako ay tatakbo bilang pangulo ng Republika ng Pilipinas, sinabi ko na ako’y tatakbo dahil ang aking layunin, ang aking pangarap para sa ating bansa ay ipagkaisa muli ang sambayanang Pilipino,” said Marcos Jr., son of the late dictator President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
“Ang pagkakaisa ay naging adhikain ko dahil sa aking tapat na paniniwala na ang pagkakaisa ay ang unang hakbang upang tayo ay makaraos na dito sa gitna ng krisis ng pandemya, sa gitna ng krisis ng ekonomiya na dala rin ng pandemya,” he added.
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Marcos Jr., who hails from Ilocos Norte, pointed to his running mate, vice-presidential candidate Sara Duterte-Carpio, a native of Davao City, as a good “example” of unity, painting a narrative of the “north” and the “south” working together.
The tandem even dubbed themselves as the “UniTeam.”
He said that from the moment that their tandem announced their bid for the two highest government positions in the country, they visited different parts of the country to spread their call for unity.
“Sa aming pag-iikot, sa aming pagdadala ng mensahe ng pagkakaisa, dahan-dahang naririnig natin sa taumbayan ang sagot sa mensahe natin. Nagsimula ito sa parang bulong lamang na halos hindi marinig, ngunit habang tumatagal ang panahon, ang tinig ng Pilipino ay palakas nang palakas hanggang ito ay nagiging sigaw ng pagkakaisa,” Marcos Jr. said.
According to Marcos Jr., history is proof that Filipinos are able to overcome crisis and calamities through unity, adding that no one person can single-handedly improve the quality of life in the country.
“Kaya ang aking nakikita na ang layunin ko, ang pangarap ko sa Pilipinas ay layunin din at pangarap ng bawat mamamayang Pilipino,” he said.
“Kaya ang aking sinimulan na isang adhikain ay nagkaroon na tayo ng kilusan ng pagkakaisa, ang kilusan na pinagsasama natin lahat ng Pilipino, pinagbubuklod natin ang galing at kakayahan ng lahat ng Pilipino para sa Pilipino,” he added.
Notably, Marcos Jr. did not discuss in detail how he could unite Filipinos or what are his concrete plans for the nation in the next six years should he become the president.
“At kapag nakamtan natin itong tagumpay ng pagkakaisa, makikita natin ang ating mga kababayan na makabalik na sa kanilang trabaho, na may pera ulit sa kanilang bulsa, na mapakain nila ang kanilang anak, mapaganda nila ang kanilang tinitirahan at kaya na nilang magbayad sa lahat ng mga pangangailangan sa araw-araw,” he said.
Marcos Jr.’s presidential bid has been marred by controversy — from the history of his late father to disqualification cases filed against him due to his previous conviction on tax-related charges.
On Tuesday, poll body spokesperson James Jimenez said a petition seeking to cancel Marcos Jr.’s certificate of candidacy for president was dismissed by the Second Division of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Nonetheless, three disqualification cases remain pending before the Comelec’s First Division.
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