Crossing party-lines, political bigwigs in the vote-rich province of Laguna on Friday gave the warmest welcome to UniTeam presidential aspirant Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and vice-presidential aspirant Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, whom they described as the “winning team” in next year’s elections.
“Laguna is more than elated and excited to welcome our winning team and the perfect tandem, the UniTeam of BBM-Sara,” Laguna Vice Governor Karen Agapay, national president of the League of Vice Governors of the Philippines, told the UniTeam BBM-Sara meet-and-greet with Lakas-CMD officials and members, friends and the Fraternal Order of Philippine Eagles at the Palmeras Garden Restaurant here.
Laguna Gov. Ramil Hernandez, a party-mate of Agapay under the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), also met with Duterte as Agapay announced their decision to make the President’s daughter an adopted honorary daughter of Laguna.
Pakil, Laguna Mayor Vincent Soriano, Lakas-CMD provincial chairman, assured the victory in Laguna of Marcos and Duterte who are consistent survey frontrunners.
“We will work hard in Laguna to ensure their victory. Naniniwala kami sa kanilang galing at naniniwala kami na sila ang magpapatuloy ng mga reporma para sa kaunlaran ng ating bansa,” Soriano, the brother-in-law of Hernandez, where his wife works as chief of staff, said during the meet-and-greet.
Soriano said Lakas-CMD is working in collaboration with PDP-Laban in the province to ensure a better Laguna.
“Naniniwala kami na mananalo ang BBM-Sara dito sa lalawigan ng Laguna We believe that the BBM-Sara will win in the province of Laguna,” Soriano said.
The BBM-Sara Uniteam held a motorcade from Pakil to Calamba City.
Senatorial aspirants Harry Roque and Jinggoy Estrada joined Marcos and Duterte in the sorties.
In another rally at Calamba on Friday afternoon, Mayor Justin Marc Chipeco declared his support for Marcos and Duterte.
“We will campaign strong and hard for BBM-Sara tandem. They are the most competent and capable leaders who can fix this pandemic and other country’s woes,” said Chipeco, who is running for Congress and is a stalwart of the Nacionalista Party (NP) of former Senate President Manny Villar.
Chipeco, Calamba City Rep. Joaquin Chipeco Jr., and their political allies organized a rally attended by elected public officials and multi-sectoral groups at the Rizal Grounds in front of Calamba City Hall.
Laguna Rep. Sol Aragones, another stalwart of NP who is running for governor, attended the rally before Marcos and Duterte arrived.
On Friday afternoon, scheduled were two separate rallies at the Pamantasan ng Cabuyao, Cabuyao and another one in San Pedro organized by local leaders.
During Thursday’s rally in Bacoor City, Nacionalista matriarch Sen. Cynthia Villar and her son, former Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar shared the stage with Marcos and Duterte during a rally at Nomo Mall parking where the leading duo introduced Mark Villar as their senatorial candidate.
Last week, Batangas Gov. Hermilando “Dodo” I. Mandanas, another PDP-Laban stalwart, and Quezon Gov. Danny Suarez, a stalwart of the Lakas-CMD, declared support to Marcos and Duterte during the UniTeam Alliance two-province sorties in CALABARZON Region.
As of 2019, Laguna is the country’s fourth-most vote-rich province with 1,903,107 registered voters.