HEAVY rains prompted the UniTeam Saturday night to cancel its grand rally in Parañaque City despite the huge crowd excited and waiting to hear the presidential-vice presidential tandem of former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.

Duterte greeted the supporters after former Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Benhur Abalos, Marcos campaign manager, announced the cancellation of the rally following the strong downpour.

Abalos said they had expected up to 50,000 Parañaque residents to show up.

However, Abalos explained they did not want the people to get sick, prompting them to cancel the rally.

“Naka-dalawang ulan na ‘to kanina pa. Ang expected namin dito at least 50,000 na crowd. And yet nakita n’yo naman ‘yung ibang kababayan natin ayaw umalis. In behalf of UniTeam, ako’y nagpapasalamat sa lahat ng mga nandirito. Lumalakas na ang ulan at talagang magkakasakit sila, but we need to call this off, pero babalik kami sa Parañaque City, pangako po namin ‘yon,” Abalos told reporters.

UniTeam’s senatorial candidates Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr., former Sen. Gregorio Honasan, and former presidential spokesman Harry Roque also approached the rain-soaked supporters to thank them for supporting the group.

Abalos promised that UniTeam would schedule another assembly.

Thousands had already gathered for the rally when it was called off.

“Sa inyong paninindigan at sa inyong sakripisyo maraming-maraming salamat po. Ito ang kampanyang galing sa puso ng tao who will vote for BBM and Sara, maraming salamat po,” Abalos said. “Baka magkasakit sila (mga tao). Kaya ako nakikiusap na magpahinga na lamang muna sila, alam namin ang pagmamahal nila.”

“Alam nyo ho, maraming maraming salamat sa inyong paninindigan, maraming salamat sa inyong sakripisyo, ito ang kinakailangan namin para sa paninindigan at sakripisyo para manalo tayo sa Mayo, kung kaya’t sa ngalan po ng Uniteam, alam namin ayaw niyong umuwi, pero kinakailangan na ho natin ikansela dahil masyado nang malakas ang ulan at ayaw namin na may magkasakit sa inyo,” Abalos told the crowd.

“So maraming maraming salamat sa lahat ng taga-Paranaque, babalik kami dito ha. Muli, alam kong ayaw niyo pang umuwi pero please ako na po ang nagsasabi, magpahinga na po tayo, ‘yung ipinapakita ninyong paninindigan ibang klase. First time kaming inulan pero ngayon lang namin nakita na talagang ayaw kami iwanan ng tao. Mag-uwian na po tayo ha, ipahinga na po natin baka magkasakit kayo, maraming maraming salamat,” he said.

Abalos reiterated UniTeam’s commitment to return to Parañaque.

“Babalik po kame rito babalik po, pangako po ‘yon, pangako ng Uniteam. Malakas na po sobra ang ulan e, malakas na, kawawa ang tao, salamat po,” he said.