Two Marcos groups in the Visayas switch to Isko Moreno

Volunteer groups Marcos pa rin and Partido Federal ng Pilipinas leadership sign over support to Isko-Sara movement

MANILA, Philippines — The Visayan support for Aksyon Demokratiko standard bearer Isko Moreno Domagoso got a big boost Tuesday as officers and members of two Visayas-based groups formerly associated with Ferdinand Marcos Jr. switched their support to the dynamic and charismatic Manila City mayor.

This after around 50 officers representing the Marcos Pa Rin (MPR) and Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) joined the Visayas for Isko-Sara Alliance (VISA) and declared their unanimous and full support for the presidential bid of Moreno and that of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte as vice president.

In the manifesto of support they signed in ceremonies held at the Zuri Hotel in Iloilo City, the new groups under the alliance noted that in these trying times, it is highly imperative for every Filipino to make the best choices in the coming elections.

Thus, they said they are throwing their full support behind Mayor Isko and Mayor Inday Sara because both are” top performing mayors” in their respective cities, are both imbued with a “brave and God-fearing heart,” and both being Bisaya.

While Mayor Isko is born, raised and started his public service in Tondo, it cannot be denied that the blood running in his veins is 100 percent Bisaya, as his mother is from Allen, Northern Samar while his father hails from Antique.

“Henceforth, (we) commit ourselves to work together and ensure its victory in the May 9 National and Local Elections,” they said.

The MPR and PFP groups now join 15 others that initially formed VISA during its launching on February 18 in Cebu City.

These are the groups SIMBA, Partido Pananghiusa, Inisyatiba Makabayang Pagbabago, Isulong Serbisyo sa Katawhan nga Organisado (ISKO) Alang Isko, Ikaw Muna Pilipinas, Ordinaryong Lungsoranon, Task Force Crusaders, Duterte Riders Team, F4, Samar Group for Isko, CIGOTON, Isko Na Bai, Blue Ladies for Isko and Women for Isko.

During the February launching ceremony, Jose Daluz, president of Partido Panaghiusa, said they chose Moreno and Duterte even if they come from different parties “for the love of the country.”

“Isko will be a very good president for the next six years especially if his vice president is Sara Duterte. They’re both Bisaya. We cannot deny that they have done a lot in their cities,” he said.

The alliance vowed to help muster enough votes to ensure the victories of Moreno and Duterte by conducting a series of activities that will boost the chances of their chosen candidates, which include the conduct of caravans and other political gatherings, among others.

VISA also dismissed survey results placing Moreno in the middle of the rankings. “We don’t believe in surveys, and there are surveys that are just for mind-conditioning,” said Daluz.

Volunteer groups Marcos pa rin and Partido Federal ng Pilipinas leadership sign over support to Isko-Sara movement

As for the PFP, this will be the second time that leaders of the group came out to “disown” their party’s supposed standard bearer and join the “Switch to Isko” bandwagon.

Last March 30, the original officers and members of PFP surfaced in Iligan City to throw their full support behind Moreno.

PFP chairman Abubakar Mangelen, who is also a commissioner at the National Commission on Muslim Affairs, affirmed the PFP’s endorsement by reading out the resolution of the party formally endorsing Mayor Isko during his campaign rally in Iligan City, with other officers and members of PFP seated at the stage behind him.

Partido Federal ng Pilipinas was founded in October 5, 2018 by former Agrarian Reform Secretary John Castriciones and other members of the Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte National Executive Coordinating Council (MRRD-NECC), a big volunteer group that propelled Duterte to the presidency in 2016.

Castriciones, who is also the president of MRRD-NECC and is now a guest senatorial candidate of Aksyon, affirmed Mangelen’s position in the party, which he said was “usurped” by Marcos Jr. for his political ambition.

“Alam ninyo ang partido ni Bongbong Marcos na PFP, ang dapat chairman niyan ay si chairman general Mangelen. Kaso, ninakaw nila,” said Castriciones in the same rally.

Marcos Jr. took his oath as the party’s chairman only the day before he filed his candidacy for president in October last year, and became the party’s supposed standard bearer.

The endorsement of the “original” officers and members of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas is a big boost to Moreno’s campaign as the party is aligned with President Duterte.

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