Rodrigo Duterte

It’s over!

March 22, 2022 Ryan Ponce Pacpaco 503 views

FINANCIERS of all other presidential candidates, not just those of Vice President Leni Robredo, are seen to start withdrawing their support soon as reports said President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (PRRD) is set to announce his endorsement of the candidacy of Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) standard-bearer Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. (BBM).

Pres. Duterte is expected to make his announcement on the heels of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipinas-Lakas ng Bayan’s (PDP-Laban) issuance of a resolution formally endorsing Marcos’s presidential bid.

The ruling party earlier endorsed Sara’s candidacy.

A political operator, who requested anonymity, pronounced that the fight is already over, now that even PDP-Laban, Pres. Duterte’s party endorsed the survey frontrunner.

“Tama yung report sa mga dyaryo at social media. Uwian na, may nanalo na!” he said.

The political operator even warned to expect the campaign of Marcos’ opponents to take a downturn as their resources will stop flowing.

“Wala na iyan, tapos na ang boksing dahil sure win na si BBM,” he said.

The operator also reminded that some financiers are already wary of disbursing funds to the candidates who cannot seem to displace Marcos from the top spot despite the proliferation of fake news and black propaganda targeting him.

“Ang masaklap pa, hindi lang basta Number 1 sa rankings kundi malayong nakasunod sa kanya ang number 2 na katulad ni Robredo,” he stressed.

Vloggers earlier had a field day when a news report came out alleging that many of Robredo’s financiers are now backing out and refusing to cough out funds.

Only anti-Marcos oligarchs or multi-millionaires who came to power after EDSA People Power 1 remained to support her candidacy.

Meanwhile, a veteran political reporter warned that reports of other candidates withdrawing from the presidential race to make way for an alliance as a last-ditch attempt to prevent Marcos’ victory in May would further proliferate.

“Lalakas lalo ang mga ganyang ugong-ugong. Pero suntok sa buwan iyan at malabo pa iyan sa sabaw ng pusit,” he said.

Reports had been coming out that Manny Pacquiao and Isko Moreno are backing out, but they have, since, denied this.

For his part, Panfilo Lacson also recently disclosed that he was approached by somebody from Robredo’s camp to get him to withdraw and support Robredo instead.

PDP Laban’s resolution

After careful and exhaustive deliberations, the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino Lakas ng Bayan (PDP Laban) through its National Executive Committee (NEC) has officially endorsed on Tuesday the presidential candidacy of former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in the coming 2022 national polls.

The PDP Laban, whose party chairman is President Duterte himself, has already endorsed the vice-presidential candidacy of Mayor Sara Duterte, the official running mate of Marcos Jr.

“After our consultation with the PDP Laban members, we are endorsing the candidacy of Bongbong Marcos for president. Hindi po ito desisyon ng isang tao but ito po ay desisyon ng partido where we went through the process based on our constitution and by-laws. Sinunod po namin ‘iyon,” PDP Laban President and Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said during a press conference on Tuesday, March 22.

Based on the PDP Laban’s NEC Resolution No. 26, Series of 2022, the NEC, the highest administrative and executive body of the party has chosen Bongbong Marcos over the other Presidential candidates as his platform is most aligned with the development program of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

The resolution stated that Marcos Jr. is the candidate whose vision of governance is most aligned with the PDP Laban’s 11-point Agenda. It also stated the decision was “to promote ‘Unity for Sustainability’ of socio-economic development and national progress in the country.”

According to Cusi, “When the NEC decided to support the presidential candidacy of Bongbong Marcos, we also considered the voices of our local members from the provincial down to the barangay level. Many of our members have already supported the tandem of Bongbong Marcos and Sara Duterte for president and vice president in the May 2022 Elections.”

The NEC resolution also stated that among the candidates for President, Senator Bongbong Marcos received the most endorsements from several local councils of PDP Laban, including Ilocos Sur, La Union, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Zambales, Batangas, Laguna, Quezon, Rizal, Oriental Mindoro, Camarines Norte, Masbate, Aklan, Negros Occidental, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Zamboanga del Sur, Davao del Sur, North Cotabato, Caloocan City, Malabon City, Mandaluyong City, Pasay City, Paranaque City, San Juan City, Valenzuela City, Malolos City, Ormoc City and San Pedro City.

Boasting itself as the dominant ruling party in the country, the PDP Laban is fielding some 6,592 national and local candidates in the May national and local elections, most of them incumbent governors, congressmen, and mayors.

Cusi has already stated that the PDP Laban has the best proven track record that it can advance and deliver its 11-point Agenda for Continuity: (1) the fight against corruption; (2) Eradication of poverty; (3) Advancement of peace and order; (4) Ending the pandemic; (5) Defeating communist terrorism in the country; (6) Sustaining economic growth; (7) Generation of jobs; (8) Strengthening national defense and foreign relations; (9) Educational reforms; (10) Decentralization and local government empowerment; and, (11) Charter change and Federalism.

“At sa pag-uusap po namin at sa pagkukunsulta po namin, ang lumabas po na malapit sa puso sa aming mga programa po na ito at ang makakatulong ay si BBM,” Cusi emphasized.

PDP Laban Secretary General and Cabinet Secretary Melvin Matibag said “Nabanggit ko naman po noon na may pag-uusap sa ibang kandidato. Ang ibig sabihin lang po nito ay sa mga pinagpilian po ang pinakamalapit po na magtutuloy at magtutulak ng mga proyekto ni Pangulong Duterte ay si dating senador Bongbong Marcos.”

“Marami po kaming na-receive na mga panawagan at sulat at resolution na galing sa iba’t ibang chapters ng PDP Laban. At minabuti po namin na bago magsimula ang local campaign ay ma-endorso po ng pormal ang pagkandidato ni dating senador Bongbong Marcos,” Matibag explained.

“Bukod doon sa pag-continue ng mga programa ni Pangulong Duterte, if you observe the behavior of former senator BBM, we know the everybody was criticized by the President, even BBM. But it is only BBM na wala siyang masamang sinabi kay Pangulong Duterte. And in fact pagkatapos nung mga nasabi sa kanya, he still willingly say na itutuloy niya kung ano ang nasimulan ni Pangulong Duterte and that shows character of a candidate,” Matibag pointed out.

“Ang PDP Laban po ay nakasuporta sa UniTeam, Bongbong Marcos for president, at Sara Duterte for vice president,” he added. WITH LEE ANN P. DUCUSIN

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