NAVOTEÑOS will support the UniTeam presidential-vice presidential tandem of former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. (BBM) and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte in the coming May 9 elections, their mayor said Friday afternoon.

“Deklarado po kame. ‘Yung Partido Navoteño is deklarado po na sumusuporta kay Bongbong Marcos at saka kay Inday Sara. Deklarado po kame,” Mayor Tobias “Toby” Tiangco told reporters in an ambush interview during the “Sara para sa Barangay” event in Navotas.

Tiangco said the UniTeam candidates’ message of hope, patriotism, and unity inspired his local political party to support the BBM-Sara tandem.

“Yung pagkakaisa, ‘yung unity, kasi hindi naman talaga pupuwede na umunlad kahit siyudad, kahit bayan, e lalong-lalo na ‘yung bansa. ‘Pag walang pagkakaisa, mahirap umunlad,” Tiangco said.

“So I think ito na talaga ‘yung magandang pagkakataon para magkaisa-isa ‘yung mga Pilipino. Suportahan ‘yung mananalong Presidente, para tuloy-tuloy ang progreso at pag-unlad ng buhay ng mga Pilipino,” Tiangco stressed.

Navotas City, which has been a bailiwick of the Tiangcos since it became a city and a separate legislative district, has more than 150,000 voters.

Tiangco said that his local party would do his best to deliver as many votes as possible to the BBM-Sara tandem.

“Lahat ng eleksiyon, never ako nangako ng ilang boto, basta pagsisikapan natin na mangampanya. Mahirap naman mangako, kase siyempre depende ‘yan sa pagpapaliwanag sa mamamayan natin kung bakit sina BBM at saka si Mayor Sara ang dapat mamuno,” Tiangco said.

However, Tiangco said there is strong grassroots support for the UniTeam tandem.

“There’s strong support sa ground. Ayoko lang kasi nangangako eh. Basta, we always try our best para mangampanya,” Tiangco added.

As to the style of campaigning he would prefer, Tiangco said he would like Marcos and Duterte to go around his city in a motorcade instead of holding a big rally.

“Normally, ang ginagawa natin para sa mga national candidates is a motorcade, kase mas maganda yung motorcade. Pag rally, ‘yung hindi tiga don sa lugar na yon, pupunta pa sila. At least sa motorcade, mailalapit natin hind lang sa tapat ng bahay pero mailalapit natin sa mga kababayan natin yung mga kandidato, makikita physically,” Tiangco said.

“Kasi ‘yung programa naman nila, madaming paraan paano malaman (ng tao). Puwede silang manood ng TV, magbasa ng dyaryo, tumingin sa social media, diba po? Pero ang mahalaga is makita nila yung mga kandidato, at least nailapit namin sa lugar nila,” Tiangco added.