PRESIDENTIAL candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. yesterday returned to his home province of Ilocos Norte to kick off the “UniTeam” campaign and strengthen their “Solid North” advantage for the May elections.
Marcos and running mate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio led a caravan through several towns including Bacarra, Banguid, Burgos, Pasuquin and Pagudpud that culminated in a grand rally at Suba Sand Dunes in Paoay. UniTeam senatorial candidates re-election Senators Sherwin Gatchalian Deputy speakers Loren Legarda and Rodante Marcoleta, former Public Works secretary Mark Villar, former presidential spokesman Harry Roque, former senator Jinggoy Estrada, former Quezon City mayor Herbert Bautista, and lawyer Larry Gadon attended the political rally.
Marcos said he is always happy to return to his province.
Marcos’ nephew, Ilocos Norte Gov. Matthew Joseph Marcos Manotoc, assured the tandem of “solid” support, not just from the province but from the entirety of Ilocandia.”
“We thank them, we welcome them and or course we pledge our support to the BBM-Sara slate entirely and ito pong Ilocos Norte na probinsya po natin ay hindi naman ganun karami ang boto, pero solid naman ang boto namin. And I’m sure solid din ang boto ng Ilocandia para sa BBM-Sara ticket (We thank them, we welcome them and or course we pledge our support to the BBM-Sara slate entirely and our province of Ilocos Norte may not have a big share of votes but they are a solid vote. And I’m sure the vote of Ilocandia is solid for the BBM-Sara ticket,” said Manotoc.
Marcos’ cousin, House majority leader Martin Romualdez, said they expect “mind-blowing” support from Ilocos Norte following the solid support displayed by the people and leaders of Isabela and Cagayan.
“This is what Solid North is all about. The Marcos name has captured the Ilocano vote; nothing is more formidable here and at the same time more loved by Filipinos in the region. Add to this equation the ‘Eagle of Mindanao’ in Mayor Inday Sara, who brings her proven track record as Davao chief executive and her father’s legacy of service. This team is unbeatable and all our fellow Filipinos need to do is to unite with them,” Romualdez said in a statement.
Prior to the caravan and rally in Ilocos, the UniTeam pledged to comply with minimum health standards of the Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) and campaign guidelines of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) as it reminded its supporters and rally organizers to follow the protocols.
On Tuesday night, Marcos joined his first televised presidential forum with fellow presidential aspirants namely: labor leader Leody de Guzman, former defense chief Norberto Gonzales, and former presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella.