President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. — Photo by Yummie Dingding / PPA POOL
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Friday urged like-minded political parties in the country to join his Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) and help push the government agenda.
“Like I said during the election: whoever they may be, whatever their political color, if they are willing to help, why not include them?” the President told journalists in Filipino at San Antonio, Zambales, where he watched the first amphibious drills between the Philippines and Australia.
“As long as they’re willing to help the government, as long as they’re willing to help us in pursuing and promoting the policies that we have created for our people, then of course they are welcome to join.”
“As the saying goes, politics is a game of addition,” Marcos said, a day he presided over what appeared to be a public display of national political muscle, in addition to the implied support of an incumbent administration.
On Thursday, the President inducted new PFP members, including his 29-year-old son, Ferdinand Alexander Marcos III, who is an incumbent representative of Ilocos Norte, his first political office.
Aside from the younger Marcos, the new PFP members included 14 governors, eight of whom were political dynasts, like the Marcoses.
Aurora Gov. Christian Noveras is the son of former Gov. Gerardo Noveras and grandson of Vice Gov. Isaias Noveras.
Camarines Norte Gov. Ricarte Padilla is the son of former Gov. Roy Padilla and brother of Sen. Robin Padilla and former Gov. Casimiro Roy Padilla Jr.
Albay Gov. Edcel Greco Lagman is the son of incumbent, octogenarian Rep. Edcel Lagman and brother of former Rep. Krisel Lagman-Luistro
Bohol Gov. Erico Aristotle Aumentado is the son of deceased former Gov. Erico Aumentado.
Southern Leyte Gov. Damian Mercado is the brother of former Gov. Roger Mercado and Vice Gov. Rosa Emilia Mercado and brother-in-law of incumbent Rep. Luz Mercado.
Lanao del Norte Gov. Imelda Dimaporo belongs, by affinity, to the clan of deceased former Gov. Ali Dimaporo, a university crony and longtime ally of the President’s deceased father, former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
Davao de Oro Gov. Dorothy Gonzaga is a former judge married to former Rep. Ruwel Peter Gonzaga.
Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. is the son of former governor and Rep. Arthur Defensor. INQ