Marcos-Duterte tandem woos Manila voters, vows to protect votes

MANILA ON HIS MIND Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. takes the stage at Saturday night’s rally in Manila’s Sampaloc district. —GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines —  Presidential contender Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has vowed to protect votes in the upcoming elections as he wooed voters in Manila’s Sampaloc District.

Marcos Jr., made the assurance after his supporters shouted “Hindi kami papayag dayain ka!” during his campaign event on Saturday.

“Tama ‘yan. Huwag tayong papaloko. ‘Wag na talaga nating payagan ‘yung mga ginagawang kalokohan sa eleksyon,” said Marcos.

(That’s correct. Let us not be fooled. Let’s not allow election cheating.)

Marcos Jr. warned those who are “planning to destroy the integrity of the forthcoming elections” adding that President Rodrigo Duterte has vowed to go after those who will disrupt the polls.

“Ngunit kinakampihan po tayo ng ating Pangulo. Winawarningan nya po lahat ng mga nag-iisip na gumawa ng kalokohan sa darating na halalan, siya raw ang bahala sa inyong lahat. Kaya mag-isip-isip kayo bago niyo gawin ‘yan,” he said.

(The President is on our side. He has warned all those who are thinking of disrupting the upcoming elections. So better think twice before doing anything.)

Meanwhile, in the same political rally, Marcos’ running mate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio reiterated that her tandem with Marcos Jr. aims to focus on the recovery of jobs and business that were lost during the pandemic.

“Kailangang tutukan ng gobyerno ang pera sa bulsa at pagkain sa lamesa ng bawat pamilyang Pilipino. ‘Yan po ang sinasabi namin na sama-sama tayong babangong muli sa pandemiya o sa kahirapan na dulot ng pandemiya,” said Duterte.

(The government must focus on how to have money in the pockets and food on the table of every Filipino family. That is what we are saying that together we will rise again from the pandemic and the poverty caused by the pandemic.)

Marcos Jr., for his part, echoed Duterte-Carpio’s sentiments, further imploring supporters to get their booster shots and prevent the resurgence of COVID-19 infections.

“Bawal na ang lockdown dahil kawawa na masyado ang mga tao. Kawawa ang naghihirap at hindi makapasok sa trabaho. Marami po tayong kailangang gawin para maging mas maganda at mas magaan ang buhay ng pangkaraniwang mamamayang Pilipino,” Marcos added.

(Lockdowns should be stopped because people are suffering too much. We have a lot to do to make the lives of ordinary Filipinos better and easier.)

/MUF