Arroyo, Pampanga’s political bigwigs endorse Marcos Jr.

Presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. attends the 75th birthday celebration of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in Quezon City. (Photo from BBM Media Bureau)

SAN FERNANDO CITY, Pampanga, Philippines— Less than two weeks before the election day, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and other political bigwigs in the province on Friday night endorsed presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

In a rally here attended by 250,000 people according to organizers, Arroyo said Pampanga Gov. Dennis Pineda and his wife Vice Governor Lilia Pineda, including the province’s four representatives and 20 mayors, backed the presidential bid of Marcos Jr.

Arroyo, president emeritus of Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats, introduced the ousted dictator’s son to her province mates as President Rodrigo Duterte’s successor.

“My dear Cabalen, Kapampangan, friends, on behalf of Gov. Delta Pineda, on behalf of Vice Gov. Nanay Baby Pineda, on behalf of the four congressmen of Pampanga, on behalf of the twenty mayors of Pampanga, here is the next president of the Republic of the Philippines, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., ” Arroyo said.

Marcos Jr. and his running mate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte returned here on Friday to solidify the support of this vote-rich province.

In the 2016 vice presidential race, Marcos Jr. got 434,235 votes in the province, beating his rival Vice President Leni Robredo who received 293,420 votes.

Arroyo, who is running unopposed as representative for the Second District of Pampanga, earlier endorsed Duterte’s vice presidential bid.

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