Villar's Nacionalista Party backs Bongbong, Sara in Eleksyon 2022

The Nacionalista Party, led by former Senate President Manny Villar, on Tuesday announced it is endorsing presidential candidate Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and his running mate, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.

In a statement, Villar said Marcos and Duterte's "message of unity is crucial in binding our country together and inspiring our people as we rebuild not only from the pandemic but also from the political chasm that divides us."

"They both have the platforms of government, qualifications and track record to lead our country towards unity and prosperity," Villar said.

Villar's son, former Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar, is running for senator under the slate of the BBM-Sara UniTeam.

Marcos expressed elation over the endorsement of his former political party. 

"Of course, we are happy every time mayroon tayong nakukuhang suporta, lalong-lalo na pinanggalingan naming partido, Nacionalista Party... mabuti 'yan na lahat ng kaibigan at lahat ng kaalyado ay ngayon mukhang nagsama-sama na...," he told reporters in Zamboanga City.

(Of course, we are happy every time we get support, especially from my former political party, the Nacionalista Party... it's good that our friends and allies have banded together to support us.)

"Nagpapasalamat kami kay Senator Manny Villar, kay Senator Cynthia pati na ang magiging senator na si Mark Villar, nagpapasalamat kami sa kanila na patuloy ang suporta nila sa amin ni Inday Sara," he added.

(I thank former Senator Manny Villar, Senator Cynthia, and soon-to-be Senator Mark Villar for their support of me and Inday Sara.)

Attorney Vic Rodriguez, Marcos' spokesman, said the party's endorsement would "surely serve as another insurance to the bandwagon of support for the UniTeam from political parties."

"Indeed, unity is what will hold our country together as we look ahead into the future of making us, Filipinos, world class citizens with nation building as our ultimate collective goal," Rodriguez said. 

Marcos had been a member of the Nacionalista Party since 2009 before joining the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas last year.

Asked about a possible endorsement from President Rodrigo Duterte, Marcos admitted that he is still hoping for it.

"Alam mo naman si Presidente, he keeps us on our toes eh... I hope so," the former senator said days after his meeting with Duterte. 

(You know the President, he keeps us on our toes...I hope so.)

Two other political parties — the PDP-Laban wing under Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi and the National Unity Party — have earlier expressed support for Marcos' presidential bid.

Marcos, son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr., had dominated the recent Pulse Asia pre-election survey with a 60% rating. —Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK/VBL, GMA News