Samahang Ilocano promises to deliver 1 million votes for Marcos-Duterte tandem

By: Dennis Gutierrez - 3 years ago

MANILA, Philippines — The “Samahang Ilocano” on Tuesday promised to deliver more than one million votes for presidential frontrunner Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos and his running mate Inday Sara Duterte.

In a manifesto, the Confederation of Ilocano Association, Inc. (Samahang Ilocano) said that they arrived at the decision to support Marcos and Duterte after a thorough consultations with their members and officials nationwide and worldwide.

“We the undersigned officials, for and in behalf of the Confederation of Ilocano Association, Inc., under SEC Registry No. 61892, after, having duly participated in series of regional, provincial, and district convention and consultation worldwide, held in the last quarter of the year 2021, with view of ascertaining and strengthening the active participation and support of Brother and Honorable International Adviser Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., popularly known as Bongbong Marcos and his running-mate Madam Lawyer Sara Duterte Carpio, as well as in support to their common national development platform, and advocacy for federalism mode of governance and development for the Philippine Republic do hereby state (our support for their candidacies),” they said in the manifesto.

The group pointed out that compared to other tandems, the BBM-Sara team has a clearer platform in advancing the federal form of government. It also believes that the Marcos family has left a legacy and done an “excellent service for the country.”

The manifesto then enumerated some big -ticket projects undertaken during the presidency of the elder Marcos.

According to Thomas Torralba, national and international president of the Ilocano Association, aside from being kababayan, they believe that Marcos has the ability, talent and genuine desire and sincerity to lead the country.

The Samahang Ilocano, founded in the 1940s, is one of the largest fraternities in the country. It includes former President Ferdinand E. Marcos, Sr., as one of its former members.

“Hindi lang buong Samahang Ilocano ang boboto kina BBM-Sara kundi pati na rin ang kanilang pamilya at kamag-anak,” said Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) secretary general (ret. Gen.) Thomson Lantion.