PLARIDEL, Bulacan – LAKAS Christian-Muslim Democrats (CMD) vice presidential candidate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte visited Bulacan Saturday, her fifth trip to the vote-rich province since the election campaign started on February 8 to get more support for her candidacy and UniTeam standard-bearer former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (BBM).

“Because isa ito sa mga lugar na marami pang puwedeng ma-convert at makumbinsi na bomoto sa akin, ang Bulacan,” Duterte told reporters in an ambush interview in San Jose del Monte City when asked why she kept on returning to this province several times.

“Isa ito sa mga lugar na pinupuntahan namin lagi dahil nakita namin na mayroon pa kaming makukumbinsi na mga tao na bumoto samin,” Duterte added.

According to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) latest data for May 9 presidential polls, Bulacan has 2,007,523 registered voters.

San Jose Del Monte City Rep. Rida Robes assured the victory of Marcos and Duterte in the city.

“Mananalo because in our survey BBM is 58 percent, Inday is 53 percent. They already reached 50% walang duda ‘yun at alam ko ramdam ng mga tao dito samin, ang ating mga kababayan ay talagang they support the UniTeam headed by BBM and Mayor Inday,” said Robes in a separate ambush interview.

“Kung ilan ang boto namin ganun karami, 80% are voting here so ganun kalakas ang botante dito sa lungsod, talagang naniniwala sila kina BBM at Sara,” Robes added.

Duterte met Saturday morning with local officials and community and sectoral leaders during the “Sara para sa Barangay”, Saturday at Don Caesareo San Diego Gym Poblacion.

She was accompanied by Plaridel Mayor Anastasia “Tesie” Vistan and her daughter, mayoralty candidate Jocell Vistan, a former mayor here.

The Davao City mayor reiterated UniTeam’s campaign for unity, national healing, and patriotism.

Duterte also renewed her call to Filipinos to get their anti-coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) jabs and booster shots to help reopen the economy and create jobs for displaced workers.

Immediately after the event, Duterte held a meet-and-greet with sectoral leaders at Sta. Isabel in Malolos City with former Mayor Christian Natividad, who is running for mayor, and other local leaders led by Guiguinto Mayor and congressional candidate Ambrosio Cruz, League of Municipalities in the Philippines (LMP) Bulacan chapter president.

Later in the afternoon, she visited families relocated in Marilao town with Mayor Ricky Silvestre and attended another “Sara para sa Barangay” in San Jose del Monte City organized by Mayor Art Robes.

Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian helped arrange her newest Bulacan campaign swing.

Duterte and Marcos have been revisiting the provinces to reach out to more voters in the homestretch of the election campaign.

The two had their proclamation at the huge Philippine Arena in Bocaue town on February 8.

Last month, they had a massive rally in Guiguinto town organized by Vice Gov. Willy Sy-Alvarado and Cruz.

Duterte’s latest visit followed expressions of support for the BBM-Sara tandem by the majority of Bulacan mayors.

Recently, Cruz said he and 13 other mayors have signed a joint manifesto supporting Marcos and Duterte.

Cruz said he the other signatories are Mayors Eladio Gonzales Jr. of Balagtas, Jose Santiago Jr. of Bocaue, Francis Albert Juan of Bustos, Ricky Silvestre of Marilao, Mary Ann Marcos of Paombong, Roderick Tiongson of San Miguel, Cipriano Violago Jr. of San Rafael, Raulito Manlapaz of Hagonoy, Arthur Robes of San Jose Del Monte, Edwin Santos of Obando, Russel Pleyto of Sta. Maria, Narding de Leon of Angat, Ferdie Estrella of Baliuag and Vergel Meneses of Bulakan.

Natividad, former Mayor Geronimo Cristobal of Norzagaray and Cris Castro of Pandi, who are candidates for mayor in their respective localities, also signed the manifesto, Cruz said.

“We collectively believe, and BBM and Mayor Sara are the candidates our country needs to unite our people and bounce back as a nation,” the Guiguinto mayor was quoted as saying.