The UniTeam tandem of former Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte will get at least 70 percent of the votes in Caloocan City in the May 9 elections.
Thus said Caloocan City Rep. Dale Gonzalo Malapitan, who made this commitment Friday during the inauguration of the local UniTeam headquarters at Marianne Building, Captain F. S. Semano in the populous Camarin district.
“We will work hard to deliver 70 percent of Caloocan votes to BBM-Sara UniTeam,” Malapitan, who is running for mayor, said in an ambush interview.
Navoteños will also support presidential bet Marcos Jr. and vice-presidential candidate Duterte-Carpio on May 9, their mayor said Friday.
“Our Partido Navoteño has declared support for Bongbong Marcos and Inday Sara,” Mayor Tobias Tiangco told reporters in an ambush interview during the Sara Para sa Barangay event in Navotas.
Lakas CMD chairperson Duterte also lobbied for the establishment of satellite offices in every region to bring government services closer to the people if she is elected Vice President.
“If I win vice president, that is one of my priorities: to create satellite offices in all regions,” Duterte said at a news conference.
“Nakaplano na ako kung ako manalo ng vice president, and that is to create satellite offices sa lahat ng regions,” she said at the conclusion of the Mahalin natin ang Pilipinas Ride (MNPR) on Monday.
In her speech, Duterte thanked the Malapitans and their constituents for supporting the UniTeam candidates.
“ I am grateful for the support that Caloocan City express for the UniTeam,” Duterte said.
The event was also attended by incumbent Mayor Oscar Malapitan, who is running for congressman, Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian, and House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco.
Rep. Malapitan told his constituents there is broad support for the UniTeam tandem because Caloocan City has been getting the attention and resources it deserves from the national government under the administration of Mayor Sara’s father, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
“ We believe that the BBM-Sara tandem has won. And all we are waiting for is the official tally,” Rep. Malapitan said.
He said Marcos and Duterte are hugely popular not only in Caloocan City but across Metro Manila and throughout the country as well, as shown by their high survey, popularity, and trust ratings.
Caloocan residents and many Filipinos are likewise inspired by the UniTeam candidates’ message of hope, patriotism, and unity, which the nation will need to hasten its recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact of the Russia-Ukraine crisis, he said.
It was the second time the UniTeam tandem visited Caloocan City in two weeks.
On February 19, Marcos and Duterte went around the city before holding a grand rally, during which Mayor Malapitan endorsed the UniTeam candidates.
He asked his constituents to vote “straight” for UniTeam ticket, including its senatorial candidates, on May 9.
With the 28-day caravan, Duterte was able to campaign for herself and the UniTeam candidates, and to personally speak to the people across the country.
Duterte was also able to see firsthand the situation on the ground and the reach of the government’s development efforts.
“If there is one particular area (that I will go back to), that would be Eastern Visayas because compared to the other areas i have been to, the infrastructure development is lagging in that region,” she said.
Duterte stressed the importance of strengthening the Regional Development Councils (RDCs) to pursue better infrastructure projects which will benefit both the citizens and investors.
“We have many places and have observed that the infrastructure development is really not balance, and this is something that the Regional Development Councils should work on. Dapat pinapalakas natin yung mga RDCs natin,” she said.
She also acknowledged the parallel groups’ effort in connecting with the MNPR organizers to show support and volunteer to be community leaders for her advocacies.
“We need to work harder for the Philippines and this cannot be done by one person,” Duterte said.
She said the support groups will become counterparts of her office in delivering services from the government down to the grassroots. This mechanism, she added, will give convenient and fast access of services as “it is easier for one person to move around than 13 regions going to one office.”
The MNPR was the first leg of Duterte’s vice presidential campaign. She is also set to visit other provinces not included in the ride route.
Tiangco said the UniTeam candidates’ message of hope, patriotism and unity inspired his local political party to support the BBM-Sara tandem.
He said supporting the BBM-Sara UniTeam come May elections is the opportune time to achieve unity among Filipinos. And unity is vital to achieve progress, he said.
Navotas City, which has been a bailiwick of the Tiangcos since it became a city and a separate legislative district, has more than 150,000 voters.
Tiangco said and his local party would do his best to deliver as many votes as possible to the BBM-Sara tandem.
However, Tiangco said there is strong grassroots support for the UniTeam tandem.
As to the style of campaigning he would prefer, Tiangco said he would like Marcos and Duterte to go around his city in a motorcade instead of holding a big rally.
