Santiago, Marcos kick off campaign in Ilocos

Presidential candidate Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago and vice presidential candidate Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos during the proclamation rally at Imelda Cultural Center, Batac City, Ilocos Norte, February 9, 2016, during the start of the 90-day campaign period. INQUIRER PHOTO / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

BATAC CITY, Ilocos Norte — Under the scorching heat of the sun, hundreds of Ilocanos waited for their first appearance as a tandem.

Presidential aspirant Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago and running mate Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. launched their campaign bid in this city, the latter’s hometown, on Tuesday.

After announcing her decision to run for president last October, Santiago only had a very few public appearances and all of them were without her running mate.

In a speech that lasted for about three minutes, Santiago vowed to send all those who were involved in the pork barrel scam to jail.

“I’ll tell you, once I become the president of this country, all the people who stole the pork barrel amounting to billions of pesos shall be sent to brand new jails. Pwedeng mamili — may ordinaryo, may business class, first class,” she said.

Santiago and Marcos flew together via private plane from Manila to Laoag in Ilocos Norte on Tuesday morning.

‘Solid north’

Marcos, meanwhile, called for unity among Filipinos and said that it should start in his hometown.

“Dapat lamang na magsimula ang kilusan na ito, ang kampanya na ito, sa Ilocandia. Ang mga Ilocano, tayo ay may ipinagmamalaki na tayo ay may tinatawag na ‘solid north,’” he said.

“Ang pag-iisip na ito ay maari nating gawin na halimbawa sa ibang tao,” he said.

He said that some leaders disunite people and that it hinders progress.

“Imbes na nagkakaisa tayo ay pinag aaway tayo, kaya nawawatak ang lipunan,” Marcos said.

“’Pag pinaghati-hati ang maraming grupo, kahit tayo ay tapat sa pag-serbisyo, maliit lang magagawa ng isang grupo. ‘Pag pinagsama-sama natin, makikita natin, mararamdaman natin ang progreso; kaya ito ang aking adbokasiya,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos welcomed the tandem with the traditional farmer hat of Ilocanos.

Santiago hails from Iloilo City but chose to join Marcos in his bailiwick to emphasize the north-south coalition.

After the short campaign launch, the tandem visited the Mariano Marcos State University, the biggest campus in the Ilocos region, to give an address before the students.

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