Bongbong Marcos tightens grip on ‘Solid North’

Vice presidential bet Senator Bongbong Marcos holds a motorcade in his home province of Ilocos Norte during the start of the campaign period for national elections. NINO JESUS ORBETA/PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER

MANGALDAN, Pangasinan—The political alliance that made up the influential “Solid North” bloc of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos remains a formidable force in the 2016 presidential elections, vice presidential candidate Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said here on Friday.

Marcos, who is running with presidential candidate Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, began a two-day sortie of his “Unity Caravan” that would cover 24 towns and cities in the vote-rich Pangasinan (more than 1.6 million voters as of 2015).

“I’m very happy to note that in the last four days, I think I can report that the so-called Solid North is still very much alive and solid. So I thank all of those who organized these sorties,” he said.

Marcos’ campaign trail had taken him to the provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra, La Union and Pangasinan after his proclamation rally in Batac City on Tuesday. These provinces belong to the Solid North of Ilocano voters. While Ilocos Norte, the Marcoses’ bailiwick, has only 361,977 registered voters, the supposed clout of the Solid North extends to some provinces in Northern Luzon and to Ilocano communities in other parts of the country.

“It was easy for me to seek the help of political leaders, who are our friends. They are willing, at least for the vice presidency, to cross party lines and that’s very important…even the young people, many of them students,” Marcos said.

“The list is long. I just came from La Union. There seems to be a bit of family feud [among political leaders] in La Union, [but] both sides will help me,” he said, referring to the Ortega clan.

In Pangasinan, Gov. Amado Espino Jr. and former Pangasinan Rep. Mark Cojuangco, who are political opponents, could be counted as “allies who are willing to help me in my vice presidential bid,” Marcos said.

“I have asked them both for their support and they have both said that they will support me. So that’s a very important example,” he added.