A jam-packed Cuneta Astrodome warmly received the administration-backed Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas on Tuesday. 

According to the coalition's campaign team, crowd estimates reached 6,000 inside the venue, with an additional 2,000 supporters gathered outside.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. went all out in the final leg of the coalition’s campaign kick-off, taking jabs at his predecessor, former president Rodrigo Duterte, who had previously made controversial remarks about "killing" incumbent senators to make way for his preferred senatorial candidates.

"Pagbigyan niyo po ako at binibilang ko lang ang aming kandidato dahil tinitiyak ko kung kumpleto at wala pang napasabugan ng granada (Please allow me to count our candidates because I am making sure they are complete and that no grenades have been detonated on them)," Marcos quipped at the beginning of his speech.

He noted the difference between Alyansa's candidates and other senatoriables, a recurring theme he has been implementing since the proclamation rally in his bailiwick, Ilocos Norte.

"Wala po kayong ibang maririnig na masasamang salita, wala kayong maririnig na mga panakot, wala po kayong maririnig na pagmumura (You will not hear any more bad words, you will not hear any threats, you will not hear any swearing)," he said.

Marcos also highlighted the political experience of his 12 senatorial candidates, the majority of them have served as local chief executives, provincial governors, lawmakers in the House of Representatives and the Senate, as well as in the Cabinet. 

"Alam na po nila kung ano ang gagawin, alam na po nila ang pangangailangan ng tao dahil habambuhay na silang nagseserbisyo sa inyong lahat (They already know what to do, they already know the needs of people because they have been serving all of you all their lives)," he said.

Unified approach

Similar to his presidential campaign ethos, Marcos once again called for unity.

"Ang kailangan po natin ay ang mag-unlad, hindi po nananakot at nagsisisigaw. At ang kailangan po natin ay solusyon, hindi po ang mga maiinit at maaanghang na salita na wala namang kinalaman at wala namang kabuluhan (What we need is progress, not threats and shouting. And what we need is solutions, not hot words that have nothing to do with anything and are meaningless)," he said. 

He assured the public that Alyansa candidates share his principles and are ready to defend Philippine sovereignty against bad actors and foreign enemies, a statement that appeared to subtly criticize Duterte for being perceived as "pro-China."

In the same spirit, Marcos also hit back at his predecessor’s controversial war on drugs, which resulted in countless deaths, and the proliferation of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGOs), which several lawmakers have linked to the Duterte administration.

The campaign period for national positions runs for 90 days, from 11 February to 10 May 2025.

The midterm elections are scheduled for 12 May 2025.