DASMARIÑAS CITY, Cavite – LAKAS-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) vice presidential candidate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte expressed her appreciation Tuesday, March 22, over the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan’s (PDP-Laban) endorsement of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s (BBM) presidential bid.

“Appreciative ang UniTeam sa endorsement ng PDP-Laban kay Apo BBM,” Mayor Duterte said in a chance interview with reporters in Dasamariñas, Cavite, where Tuesday sorties were held.

For his part, Marcos thanked the Cusi wing of PDP-Laban for the endorsement extended to him and Duterte.

“We are very grateful and happy to receive this much awaited and much hope for news. Malaking pasasalamat namin sa lahat ng kaibigan na kasapi ng PDP-Laban sa kanilang ipinahayag na tiwala sa amin ni Inday Sara at sa buong UniTeam,” Marcos Jr. told reporters in an ambush interview at Escala Hotel in Tagaytay City.

“At ito ang bagong development na ito, this will consolidate the forces of unity so that we can continue to work against those who would want to fight Filipinos against each other and that is what we have been campaigning for and that is our dream that we bring our country together. This is an important step in that regard. Maraming salamat sa PDP at sa lahat ng mga miyembro and I look forward to working with them. Magkakaibigan naman talaga kaming lahat, parang na-formalized na ang aming relasyon sa ating mga kaibigan, ang personal relationship with our friends in the PDP-Laban,” Marcos added.

Duterte would reiterate the same statement later at Escala hotel in Tagaytay, telling reporters: “Ako as [the] running mate of Apo BBM is truly grateful to PDP-Laban for their endorsement to the candidacy of President Bongbong Marcos.”

Earlier that day, the so-called Cusi wing of the ruling PDP-Laban party officially endorsed the candidacy of Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) standard-bearer Marcos.

According to the faction, Marcos is the most aligned with the policies of the current administration of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

President Duterte is Mayor Duterte’s father. He also chairs the Cusi wing of PDP-Laban.

Asked if she thinks the Cusi wing endorsement is basically an endorsement from President Duterte himself, Mayor Duterte said: “I cannot speak for the President, I do not know what he’s thinking right now.”

“I do not know what was discussed but I only knew of the agreement that PDP-Laban will endorse the presidency of BBM,” she added.

Senator Francis Tolentino, who accompanied the UniTeam ticket on the campaign trail Tuesday in Cavite, said his PDP-Laban partymates can now be expected to go on full blast in campaigning for Mayor Duterte and Marcos.

This is because the endorsement has eliminated all traces of doubt on which presidential aspirant to support in May.

“Maraming gobernador ang nagtatanong at nahihirapan kung sino ang kanilang iboboto, ngayon maliwanag na ang Pangulong susuportahan ng maraming gobernador ay si BBM at ang bise presidente si Mayor Sara Duterte,” Tolentino said during the second of two mini-rallies held in Dasmariñas, Tuesday.

A UniTeam grand rally was also slated to be held in General Trias on Tuesday night.