Marcos urges support for Alyansa’s 11 Senate bets, omits Imee

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. again left out his sister, re-electionist Senator Imee Marcos, as he called for public support for Alyansa Para Sa Bagong Pilipinas’ 11 senatorial candidates during a campaign rally in Laguna on Saturday.

''Magkaisa po tayo sa ating Alyansa. At huwag po nating gawing Alyansa lamang nitong sampu, 11 na tao, 11 na kandidato na tumatakbo bilang senador na kasama sa Alyansa. Samahan niyo po kami, Samahan niyo po kami magka-alyansa din tayo, magkapit-bisig tayo at sama-sama po natin pagandahin ang buhay ng bawat Pilipino,'' Marcos said in his speech.

Originally, the administration’s Senate slate included Imee Marcos, Benhur Abalos, Abby Binay, Pia Cayetano, Lito Lapid, Bong Revilla, Tito Sotto, Francis Tolentino, Ping Lacson, Manny Pacquiao, Erwin Tulfo, and Camille Villar.

Marcos also omitted Imee in his endorsement speech during a Cavite sortie on March 21. However, Alyansa campaign manager Toby Tiangco denied any discussion of dropping her from the slate.

Imee previously skipped the administration’s Tacloban rally, expressing disapproval of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s arrest and detention in the Netherlands.

Marcos urged voters to support his candidates in fighting poverty, crime, and illegal drugs.

''Magsama-sama po tayo, magtulungan po tayo, mag-alyansa po tayo muli upang labanan ang kahirapan, upang labanan ang krimen, upang labanan ang mga drug lord na pumapasok dito sa Pilipinas. Ito po, hinaharap ko po sa inyo ang ating Alyansa na siyang gagawa at siyang magtatrabaho upang pabalikin ang kapayapaan sa ating minamahal na Pilipinas,'' he said.

He emphasized that Alyansa’s goal is peace, not division or oppression.

''Malinaw naman ang hangarin, ang direksyon ng ating Alyansa. Ang hinahanap po natin ay kapayapaan, hindi po ang pagaaway-away, hindi po pang-aapi,'' Marcos added.

Vote-rich Laguna

With 2,140,124 registered voters, Laguna is a key battleground in the elections. Tiangco stressed that Alyansa’s candidates were chosen based on competence and experience.

Meanwhile, the senatorial bets pledged to push for the National Land Use Act if elected.

"Napakarami ho nating magandang proyekto... magandang proyekto... naaantala o nasisira dahil papasukan ng politika, kung hindi man, korapsyon,'' Tulfo said.

Lacson, the author of the National ID law, cited implementation issues despite consistent budget allocations.

"Ako ang author and sponsor ng National ID, alam niyo 'yan," said Lacson. "Ang naging problema, implementation. Ang budget laging may budget 'yan. I remember right after we passed it into law meron kaagad na P25 billion, and multi-year talagang pinopondohan 'yan para ang implementation mapadali.''

Before the rally, Marcos visited a job and government services fair in Biñan, assuring the public of the government’s commitment to improving services.

''Asahan din po ninyo na ang inyong pamahalaan ay walang ginawa kundi mag-isip, maghanap, magtrabaho upang mapaganda ang takbo ng pamahalaan para mapabilis, mapaganda, at maparami ang serbisyo ng pamahalaan para sa inyo, para sa ating mga kababayan,'' Marcos said. — DVM, GMA Integrated News

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