By Joenald Medina Rayos
BATANGAS City – “I will run for President.. I can only speak for myself, and I can’t speak for whatever political plans they may have..”
Thus, this is how former Senator Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos, Jr., presidential candidate of Partido Federal ng Pilipinas reacted on the possible running of Davao City mayor Sara Duterte for president under Lakas CMD Party.
Bongbong Marcos said that since the moment he decided to file his Certificate of Candidacy for President (COC), he made it a point that he will run for the position to the end. “May Marcos bang umaatras sa laban? (Is there any Marcos retreating from a fight?)”, he asked the thousands of supporters gathered at the Batangas provincial capitol grounds, Friday afternoon.
Mayor Duterte has withdrawn her candidacy for reelection and has joined the Lakas CMD Party of Marcos’ cousin, Majority Floor Leader Martin Romualdez. Last Wednesday, Albay representative Joey Salceda said that Mayor Duterte will run for president under Lakas CMD.
Asked on the possibility of a Marcos-Duterte tandem, should the Lakas CMD coalesce with Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, Marcos said he is both open for a tandem with Mayor Sara, and should the latter also run for president, Marcos said he is also ready to run even without a running-mate.
Mayor Sara has since declared her support to Marcos’ presidential bid.
Meanwhile, Marcos graced the caravan in Batangas organized by BBM Movements of Batangas, Quezon and Cavite where Batangas governor Hermilando I. Mandanas welcomed him at the capitol grounds.
Businessman Alex Yap said the volunteers and supporters mobilized the caravan that started in Lipa City down to Batangas City. After the short program in the capitol grounds, the caravan moved to Taal and Nasugbu, before proceeding to Cavite.
In Lipa City, majority of the mayors of Quezon province met Marcos and had a short meeting with them before meeting with Batangas’ mayors in Batangas City led by Philippine Mayors League- Batangas Chapter president and San Jose mayor Valentino Patron.
“Dito sa Batangas, isa lamang ang kulay na ating tinatanggap, at iyan ay ang kulay na dala ng tunay na magiting na may kakayahang mamuno sa ating bansa, at iyan ay ang ating iginagalang na dating senador, Bongbong Marcos,” Governor Mandanas declared as supported applauded.
Mandanas is running for his third and final term as governor under PDP-Laban.
