President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in his final effort to woo voters, returned to Mandaluyong City — the location of his 2022 presidential campaign headquarters — for the final campaign rally of the administration coalition Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas.
In his remarks, Marcos recalled his landslide victory in the so-called “Tiger City.”
“All candidates I campaigned for here in Mandaluyong won. Thank you very much,” he said in Filipino.
Now halfway through his term, Marcos once again invoked the battle cry that carried him to power: unity. He stressed the importance of national solidarity in times of uncertainty.
“If you remember when I campaigned here what I kept shouting was unity,” he said. “In my view, in our view — and in the view of all Filipinos — nothing will happen to us if we keep fighting among ourselves.”
Echoing his “Bagong Pilipinas” vision, Marcos said he hopes to replicate his success in unifying political allies by forming a Senate lineup aligned with his administration’s goals.
If elected, he said, Alyansa senators would help advance national progress, freedom and the public welfare.
“That’s why we brought together the best people we know who can serve in the Senate — so that we can continue the progress, development, a peaceful Philippines, and bring comfort and relief to our fellow Filipinos,” Marcos said.
He said the Alyansa bets will reflect his administration’s brand of constructive politics.
“You will see that Alyansa does not sow chaos,” he said. “Their goal, once in the Senate, is not to create problems but to find solutions — work honestly, study issues thoroughly, and do what is best for our people.”
Marcos urged voters to examine the credentials of Alyansa’s senatorial lineup.
“Think about who you’re choosing: choose someone you know can help the people, someone who will cooperate with everyone, regardless of political affiliation or personal ties,” he said. “If it’s for the good of the Philippines, Alyansa will be there.”
As of the last day of the campaign, 11 candidates are running under the administration coalition.
They are former Interior secretary Benhur Abalos; Senators Lito Lapid, Pia Cayetano, Bong Revilla Jr. and Francis Tolentino; former Senate president Tito Sotto; former senators Manny Pacquiao and Ping Lacson; lawmakers Erwin Tulfo and Camille Villar; and Makati City Mayor Abby Binay.
Sen. Imee Marcos, the president’s sister, left the Alyansa slate midway through the campaign to run as an independent.