Presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr., son of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, gestures as he delivers his speech during the first day of the campaign period for the 2022 presidential election, at the Philippine Arena, in Bulacan province, Philippines, Feb. 8, 2022. (REUTERS/Lisa Marie David)
MANILA, Philippines — The camp of presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said Tuesday that the endorsement of the PDP-Laban wing led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi signals that their message of national unity is “gaining ground.”
In a statement, Marcos’ chief of staff and spokesperson Vic Rodriguez said their camp “appreciates deeply” the decision of the one of the oldest and illustrious political parties in the country to join the Marcos “bandwagon.”
“We are glad the PDP-Laban has joined the bandwagon of support for the BBM-Sara UniTeam of major political parties in the country. It is truly reassuring, but at the same time challenging us to be even more prepared and vigilant in light of growing rumors of possible poll fraud in the coming elections,” Rodriguez said.
“The trust it placed in him (Marcos) inspires us beyond measure, for it signals that our message of national unity is gaining ground,” he added.
Meanwhile, Rodriguez also said that the Marcos camp “cannot be complacent” because of forces that “try to put him down.”
“It’s barely two months before the D-Day; and all the national surveys indicate a runaway advantage for Marcos Jr., but we cannot be complacent as the forces that try to put him down ever since, has not cease, and apparently has even intensified their gutter ways,” he said.
“Again, we thank PDP-Laban for joining the crescendoing chorus of national unification as we call on our supporters not to blink, not yet, for victory may only be claimed when votes have already been cast and every ballot counted on election day,” Rodriguez further said.
In January, the PDP-Laban wing led by Cusi also adopted Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio as its vice presidential candidate in the May 9 elections. Duterte-Carpio is the daughter of President Rodrigo Duterte, one of the key figures behind the split in the ruling party.
The other faction of PDP-Laban is led by Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, son and namesake of one of the founders of the party, and Senator Manny Pacquiao, who is mounting his own presidential campaign under the PROMDI party.