President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.-backed Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas denied on Monday speculation that another candidate, Rep. Camille Villar, is dropping out of the senatorial slate after receiving an endorsement from the administration’s former ally-turned-foe, Vice President Sara Duterte.

Campaign manager Toby Tiangco issued the statement, clarifying that the administration senatorial ticket remains “intact” despite widely circulated photos of Villar posing with Duterte and making a fist bump—the trademark hand gesture of the Dutertes.

The viral photos, which were uploaded on Facebook by former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque—a key ally of the Dutertes—also captured Villar’s father, business tycoon Manny Villar, doing the same signature pose.

Despite this, Tiangco made it clear that the Marcos-endorsed Alyansa—comprising five major political parties, including the Nacionalista Party headed by Manny—is still “intact” as anyone can freely endorse any of its candidates, downplaying rumors of Camille’s possible exit from the slate.

“Our candidates continue to receive overwhelming support both at the national and local level, and even from grassroots organizations. This is something that we welcome and we are proud of because politics is about addition, not division. It is about building coalitions. And in any election every bit of support counts,” Tiangco explained.

After all, the Navotas lawmaker said, mustering broad support across various political coalitions, civic organizations, and communities is the ultimate goal to secure a straight win in the Senate in the upcoming midterm elections.

“Every endorsement received by each candidate of the Alyansa is proof of support for the Bagong Pilipinas (New Philippines) that our President is championing. And that is what matters most,” he added.

Camille previously missed multiple campaign sorties following the contentious arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte upon the order of the International Criminal Court. Speculations have suggested that her abrupt absence had something to do with Duterte’s arrest, which her parents—Manny and Senator Cynthia Villar—openly criticized.

The Villars are prominent allies of the former president, with Senator Mark Villar having served as Duterte’s chief of the Department of Public Works and Highways.

Aside from Camille’s viral photos with the VP, a political advertisement featuring Senator Imee Marcos being endorsed by Duterte has also sparked public attention and controversy.

In the said ad, the VP and Senator Marcos took a swipe at the administration, citing rampant hunger and recent cases of criminality.

To recall, Senator Marcos withdrew from her brother’s slate on 26 March, seven weeks before the 12 May election. She claimed that she “cannot stand on the same campaign platform as the rest of the Alyansa,” as she took offense at the actions taken by the administration that “ran counter to my ideals and principles,” referring to former president Duterte’s arrest.

She echoed the assertions of her “friend” and ally, VP Duterte, who branded it as kidnapping and political persecution.

Previously, Tiangco said the coalition fully respects Marcos’ decision to withdraw from the slate—an action that will not disrupt their upcoming plans and sorties.

Tiangco had also debunked reports that the "Kiko-Bam" tandem—former senators Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan and Paolo “Bam” Aquino IV—will potentially replace Marcos and Villar in the slate.

Pangilinan and Aquino are running as independent candidates, although they are still affiliated with their political parties.

Pangilinan is still a member of the opposition Liberal Party, while Aquino, a long-time member of the same party who resigned in May last year, now chairs Katipunan ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino.