FILE PHOTO: Ferdinand Marcos Jr.and Sara Duterte-Carpio at a campaign sortie in Laguna on March 12, 2022. (Photo from the Facebook page of Bongbong Marcos)
GUIMBAL, Iloilo — With less than a week before the national elections, presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. closed his campaign in the Visayas region in the bailiwick of rival Vice President Leni Robredo—Iloilo province—where he called on his supporters to continue their movement for unity even after the polls.
During his three-month campaign, Marcos’ call for unity has consistently been the focus of his speeches. At the Guimbal football field, Marcos said the movement of unity should not stop once the election season is over.
“Hindi namin akalain na nandito na tayo kahit wala pang halalan. At ang gumawa nitong lahat ay hindi ang inyong mga kandidato dahil kami ay kandidato pa lang. Ang nagsimula at ang nagpatuloy ng kilusan ng pagkakaisa ay kayong mga Pilipino, kayo mga tunay na Pilipino,” Marcos said.
“Kahit tapos na ang inyong desisyon kung sino ang mamumuno, huwag tayong titigil dito sa ating ginagawa na kilusan ng pagkakaisa dahil kinakailangan pa rin ng ating mga kababayan, ng ating minamahal na Pilipinas, ang inyong pagtulong sa isa’t-isa,” he added.
Marcos said the upcoming elections next week, May 9, will be one of the “most meaningful” polls in the history of the country.
“Pagdating ng Lunes, sa inyong pagboto, ipaalam ninyo kung ano ang tunay na tinig ng Pilipino. Iparinig natin sa lahat dito sa Pilipinas. Iparinig natin sa lahat sa buong mundo kung animan ang nasa puso ng Pilipino,” Marcos said.
“Sa darating na Lunes, nasa kamay ninyo ang kinabukasan ng ating minamahal na Pilipinas. Sa darating na Lunes, nasa kamay ninyo kung anong direksyon, saan natin dadalhin ang Pilipinas, kung ano ang ninanais natin na maging kinabukasan ng Pilipino,” he added.
Meanwhile, his running mate Inday Sara Duterte-Carpio provided a summary of their campaign over the past three months.
Duterte-Carpio said that if they are elected, they will push for more jobs in the country, world-class education, and peaceful communities for Filipinos.
Moreover, Duterte-Carpio also vowed to push for “colorless politics” as well as programs of President Rodrigo Duterte such as the “Build, Build, Build” program and the anti-criminality efforts.
Duterte-Carpio likewise asked support for Marcos, saying the latter has not spoken to those who want to topple the government.
“Sa kampanyang ito, hindi si Bongbong Marcos nakipag-usap sa mga grupo na gustong ipabagsak ang gobyerno. Sa kampanyang ito hindi siya nakipag-sundo sa mga tao o mga grupo na sumusuporta sa mga grupo na gusto ipabagsak ang gobyerno,” Duterte-Carpio said.
“’Yan si Bongbong Marcos, hindi niya ‘yan ginawa para lang manalo siya, ‘yan si Bongbong Marcos, iboto niyo. Bongong Marcos will never sleep with the enemies of the state, never,” she added.
First miting de avance
The miting de avance in Iloilo is the first of three events of the Marcos-Duterte tandem as they close their campaign ahead of the 2022 national polls.
Aside from Iloilo, the tandem will also visit Davao del Norte in Mindanao on May 5 and Parañaque City in the National Capital Region in Luzon on May 7.
The Iloilo miting de avance was hosted by Iloilo 1st District Rep. Janette Garin and her husband Richard Garin, who chairs the Lakas-CMD party in Iloilo province.
Rep. Garin believes the Marcos-Duterte tandem will win in two districts in the province.
“Overall, ang hinahabol dito ay maging patas. Or kung lumamang man ng kaunti ay malaking bagay na ‘yun,” Garin told reporters.
“Andun kasi ‘yung pagod na yung tao sa parang masyadong away ng pulitika. People are tired of being divided,” she added.