Davao City mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS
Sen. Bongbong Marcos, placing second at the unofficial Comelec server count, on Wednesday congratulated Davao city mayor Rodrigo Duterte for becoming the country’s first president from Mindanao.
In a statement, Marcos said Duterte is a close friend, calling him the country’s “mayor president.”
“Nais kong batiin ang aking matalik na kaibigan na si ‘Mayor President’ Rodrigo ‘Digong’ Duterte (I would like to greet my best friend Mayor President Rodrigo ‘Digong’ Duterte),” Marcos said.
He issued the statement hoping to become the country’s vice president, even though the unofficial count showed him 200,000 votes behind administration bet Leni Robredo.
READ: Robredo maintains 200K lead over Marcos on day 3 of unofficial tally
Marcos said he is confident Duterte as a native of Mindanao would be able to lead the peace process with Muslim rebels to ensure long-lasting peace in the region.
“As the first president from Mindanao, I am certain you will continue our efforts in the peace process in order to finally usher in a period of harmony and development in the Land of Promise,” Marcos said.
“I wish nothing but the best for you because when a president does well, so does the country,” he added.
READ: BBL now ‘demolished’; time to look for alternatives—Marcos
Marcos had opposed the administration peace process bill Bangsamoro basic law (BBL), blocking the passage of the pet bill in the Senate and calling it unconstitutional. The bill seeks to create a more politically autonomous Bangsamoro region in the aftermath of a peace deal with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
Meanwhile, Duterte had espoused for federalism as an alternative to the BBL.
READ: Duterte: Federalism an alternative to BBL
Marcos’ vice-presidential bid remains hounded by the human-rights violations under the martial rule of his father and the ill-gotten wealth accumulated by his family under Marcos’ 21-year rule.
During the first vice-presidential debate at the University of Santo Tomas, Marcos even said he had nothing to do with his family’s alleged ill-gotten wealth and that he could not return what he does not have. TVJ
READ: PCGG: Bongbong blocked return of $40M to gov’t