Endorsements continue to pour in for vice presidential candidate Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. since he embarked on his Unity Caravan on Wednesday in Mindanao.
In Cagayan de Oro, Rep. Rolando Uy defied the ruling Liberal Party and supported Marcos.
In Misami Oriental, Gov. Yevgeny Vicente “Bambi” Emano, scion of the influential Emano clan which dominated politics in the province for over three decades, also threw his support behind the candidacy of Marcos.
During a meeting with hundreds of leaders and supporters at the Pearlmont Hotel in Cagayan De Oro City, Uy said he has been a good friend of Marcos since he was still the barangay chairman of Carmen.
He said he had also worked closely with Marcos in the House of Representatives when he was first elected as Cagayan de Oro’s 1st district representative which gave him a first-hand account of Marcos’ work ethics and strong commitment to public service.
“We share a strong bond of friendship, we should make him our candidate. Let us support Senator Bongbong Marcos and vote for him,” Uy urged his local leaders and supporters who roared their agreement.
In turn, Marcos thanked Uy for his endorsement, saying his leadership is evident with the huge turnout of the people who attended the event and the warm and enthusiastic reception he received from them.
“Maybe a lot of people were surprised because he has not come out openly before as to the candidate he would endorse. But now we all know,” Marcos said.
The senator said he is ready to take on the duties of a Vice President because of his 27 years of experience in both the Executive and Legislative departments of government, having served as vice governor, governor and representative of Ilocos Norte up to his current position as senator.
But Marcos emphasized that he is not only campaigning for his vice presidential bid. More importantly, he stressed, he is spreading his message for national unity, which, according to him, is essential to achieve the dream of a more progressive future for all Filipinos.
Since Wednesday, Marcos’ Unity Caravan has been going around Mindanao, starting in Gingoog City in Misamis Oriental and the municipalities of Initao and Tubod in the same province, where he invariably received warm receptions from political leaders and local residents.
This morning (Sunday), Marcos will visit the whole of Eastern Visayas, a known bailiwick of the Marcoses since it is the hometown of his mother, former First Lady and now Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Romualdez Marcos.
His cousins, Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez and Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez are expected to join him in the series of meetings around the region consisting the provinces of Biliran, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Samar Leyte and Southern Leyte and the cities of Baybay, Borongan, Calbayog, Catbalogan, Maasin, Ormoc and Tacloban.
Emano foir his aprt gave his assurance of support to Marcos in a private breakfast meeting held at the Lasang Secret Adventure Park in the town of Initao, Misamis Oriental last Friday.
Also present in the meeting to show his support for Marcos was Initao Mayor Enerito “Gogoy” Acain. He came with his entire slate for the 2016 elections.
Marcos and Emano ended their meeting with a firm handshake.
Emano and Marcos are both members of the Nacionalista Party and close personal friends. They had also worked together as members of the House of Representatives.