Bongbong Marcos campaigns in Socsksargen sans Sara Duterte
Ferdinand Marcos Jr. FILE PHOTO
KORONADAL CITY — Presidential candidate former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. kicked off his Mindanao sortie in Region 12 (Soccsksargen) with a grand campaign rally in this city, but without his running mate, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.
Marcos held campaign rallies in General Santos City, where he arrived on a chartered plane Sunday morning at the airport there, and in Polomolok, South Cotabato, before capping their grand campaign sortie in this city where a huge crowd turned out to welcome him and his party.
Rain drenched thousands of supporters who could not be accommodated in the three covered stands built in the four-hectare South Cotabato Sports Complex while waiting for Marcos, who arrived around 3:20 p.m.
He delivered a 20-minute speech with a narrative driving on unity and the support the UniTeam is getting. Marcos is the standard bearer of Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) while Duterte is running under the Lakas Christian Muslim Democrats.
“Kayo po ay talaga namang pinakita po ninyo ang suporta ninyo hindi lamang sa aming kandidato ng UniTeam kundi sa aming adhikain ng pagkakaisa at masasabi ko na itong pagtanggap ninyo sa amin, itong pagtangap ninyo sa adhikain ng pagkakaisa, yan po ang ating nakikita sa buong Pilipinas na tinatangap ang ating adhikain ng pagkakaisa para pagandahin ang Pilipinas, para pagandahin ang buhay ng bawat Pilipino,” the son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, Sr. said.
“Sa aking mga minamahal na mga kababayan, sama-sama po tayong babangon muli,” Marcos told the crowd.
Koronadal City is the capital of South Cotabato and the seat of government of Region 12, which is also composed of the provinces of North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani.
Marcos endorsed the reelection bid of South Cotabato Gov. Reynaldo Tamayo, Jr., PFP president, who is seeking a second term.
Mayor Duterte skipped the grand proclamation rally of South Cotabato candidates. She was represented by her younger brother, Davao City Vice Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, who is running for mayor in his city.
Sebastian expressed the Duterte family’s gratitude to those who voted for their father, Rodrigo Duterte, to become the country’s first and only president from Mindanao.
The younger Duterte called on those who cast their votes on their father to also vote Sara and Marcos for the country’s two highest positions during the May 9 national elections.
He did not disclose the reason why his sister failed to attend the UniTeam’s grand campaign rally here.
The UniTeam’s senatorial bets who joined the rally here were former Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista, former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, former Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, former Defense Secretary Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro, Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, SAGIP Partylist Rep. Rodante Marcoleta, lawyer Larry Gadon, actor Robin Padilla and former Senator Jinggoy Estrada.
On Monday, the UniTeam was scheduled to hold proclamation rallies in Kabacan, North Cotabato, Buluan in Maguindanao and in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat.
