Presidential candidate Sen. Miriam Santiago (right) and vice-presidential candidate Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (left), the son of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, gesture to supporters during a campaign rally in Batac, Ilocos Norte, Tuesday, at the start of the campaign for the May 10 national elections.(MNS photo)
LAGUNA (Mabuhay) – Vice presidential aspirant Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said he is eyeing the endorsement of One Cebu Party after the latter severed ties with Vice President Jejomar Binay’s United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).
Marcos claimed negotiations are underway between him and the influential local political party headed by the Garcia clan.
An endorsement from One Cebu is considered a big boost to any national candidate as the province is home to 2.7 million registered voters—the largest in the country.
Marcos claimed his camp has long been in talks with One Cebu even before it decided to drop its support for Binay’s camp due to party differences.
“Matagal na kami nag-uusap. Lumalapit ako sa kanila para humingi ng suporta,” Marcos said. He, however, clarified that no deal has been reached yet.
“Pero sa ngayon marami pa silang isyung tinatalakay,” he said.
Marcos is optimistic that he will be endorsed by the the influential political bloc in Cebu.
“Matagal na kaming magkakaibigan,” he said, referring to the Garcia clan. “Naging kaalyado iyan ng aking ama.”
The possible endorsement would boost an already favorable showing of the young Marcos, who led the latest ABS-CBN-commissioned Pulse Asia survey.
“Every endorsement is important moreso that they are the Garcias of Cebu, very prominent and important family in the province,” he said.
Marcos attended today the graduation ceremony of high school students at the Emmanuel Christian School in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. He served as the guest speaker and led the awarding of the school’s academic honors.
Marcos was also prayed over by school officials during the ceremony.
The event was hardly a campaign, with no “Marcos for Vice President” tarpaulins and posters placed anywhere in the campus.
His speech was also non-political in nature. He only told the graduates to continue their education and did not mention any political promises.
There was also no local official present to campaign for Marcos during the event.(MNS)