CONVINCED that presidential frontrunner Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos is the best man to lead the country towards progress in the next six years, some 500 retired junior police officials and soldiers on Wednesday have issued a manifesto expressing their support to his candidacy.

The support came barely a few weeks after more than 100 former chiefs of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and chiefs of the Philippine National Police (PNP) as well as retired generals, also announced their support for his presidential bid.

“Kaming mga retiradong sundalo, pulis at bantay dagat na naghain ng aming talino at kung kakailanganin ang aming buhay bilang sergeant majors, police executive senior police officers, master CPO of the Coast Guard at senior non-commissioned officers, tungo sa katahimikan, kaligtasan at kaunlaran ng ating bansang Pilipinas ay buong pusong sumusuporta sa kandidatura ni Senador Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos na tumatakbo sa bilang presidente sa halalan sa May 9, 2022,” said the former non-commissioned officers in the manifesto submitted to the office of the Federal Party of the Philippines (PFP).

Most signatories have the ranks of corporal, sergeant, master sergeant and lieutenant.

They all expressed belief that Marcos’ call for national unity and reconciliatory leadership is the best way to lead the country to development and progress.

“Malakas ang aming paniwala na si Bongbong Marcos (BBM) ang Pangulong kailangan ng bawat Pilipino,” they said.

It will be recalled that nearly 100 retired generals from the AFP and PNP also gave their support to Marcos’ candidacy.

This support was formally signed by former generals at an event in Marikina, two weeks ago.

The retired officials said one of the reasons why they have expressed support for Marcos was that they were worried about the reported alliance of his rival Leni Robredo with New People’s Army (NPA) terrorists.

To recall, Medal of Valor awardee retired Colonel Ariel Querubin on Tuesday openly condemned Leni Robredo’s support for the terrorist Communist Party of the Philippines -New People’s Army (CPP -NPA).

In an open letter, Querubin revealed that he was briefed by PNP officials and representatives of the National Task Force on Ending Local Communists Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) and former NPA rebels who confirmed about Leni Robredo’s links to the terrorist group.

“As a soldier and a Medal of Valor awardee who has fought the CPP/NPA and a witness to soldiers who died in combat fighting the enemies of the state, I will not support a candidate who has alleged links with our enemies,” said Querubin.

Querubin’s open letter was in response to a statement by the affiliated Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals (BCBP) which earlier backed Robredo.

As a result, Querubin immediately resigned as a member of the group. With Blessie Amor Vicente & Joanne Rosario (OJTs)