President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers his speech at Malacañan Palace in this file photo taken on January 12, 2024. INQUIRER.net / Ryan Leagogo
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. clarified on Sunday that the “Bagong Pilipinas” movement “serves no narrow political interest” and is not “a new partisan coalition in disguise.”
“Bagong Pilipinas is not a political game plan that caters to a privileged few. It is a master plan for genuine development that benefits of all our people. [It] serves no narrow political interest. It serves the people,” Marcos said during his speech at the Bagong Pilipinas kick-off rally in Quirino Grandstand.
“Bagong Pilipinas is not a new partisan coalition in disguise. It is a set of ideals that all Filipinos, regardless of political creed, religion, or wealth, can coalesce around. [It] is addressed to all government officials, employees, and citizens of this country,” he added.
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According to the chief executive, the movement is an “invitation” encouraging every Filipino “to view the nation from a renewed perspective.”
“It is a call for transformation. The transformation of our idea of being a Filipino, and the transformation of our economy, of governance, of society. Bagong Pilipinas transcends this administration,” Marcos stressed.
“To those whose overheated imagination has been poisoned by toxic politics, Bagong Pilipinas is no Trojan Horse. It conceals no agenda. It is a program, many workhorses driven by the love of country,” he added.
Aside from Marcos other government officials were also present during the event.
Among them were Senator Jinggoy Estrada, Senator Lito Lapid, Senator Ramon Revilla, House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Executive Secretary Chief Lucas Bersamin, Presidential Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil, First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos, and the President’s son House Senior Deputy Majority Leader Sandro Marcos.
Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte also appeared hours before Marcos but left to join the prayer rally held in Davao City.