ZAMBALES Governor Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr. has formally endorsed the candidacies of Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) standard-bearer Ferdinand Marcos and his running-mate Inday Sara Duterte, as well as their entire senatorial slate.
Ebdane, a long-serving governor, raised the hands of presidential frontrunner Marcos and the UniTeam’s senatorial candidates who were present at a recent grand rally at the Sports Complex in Iba, Zambales to signify his endorsement of their candidacies.
“Countrymen, we’ve reached the point when we can see the candidate we’ve dreamt of become president of the Philippines. He has everything we look for in a leader,” Ebdane, a former Philippine National Police chief and secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways, declared, in a mix of English and Filipino.
He added, “we cannot deny he is the best among the contenders. Do you know him?” to which the tens of thousands of Zambalenos who attended the rally responded with resounding cheers of “BBM.”
“Thank you so much for your warm welcome and support for UniTeam,” Marcos said when he was finally able to speak amid the loud chants.
He asked them to continue the movement for unity, saying the victory that must be attained goes beyong the elections: when the Filipino nation is united in doing everything to make life better.
He then explained that real success for him is to see that every Filipino family has a roof over its head, food on the table and a sustainable income that allows parents to send their children to schools.
“Dumating sana ang araw na lahat ng Pilipino ay may trabaho, lahat po ay may pera sa bulsa, makapagbayad ng kanilang mga pangangailangan, mapakakain ang kanilang mga pamilya, mapag-aral ang kanilang mga anak. ‘Yan po ang pangarap natin, makakamtan po natin ‘yan sa pamamagitan ng pagkakaisa,” he stressed.
“Panalo ka na [You’re a winner],” one of those in the audience said which was seconded by another who also shouted, “You’re truly a winner, and by a landslide!”
3 more orgs back UniTeam
Meanwhile, the number of organizations and groups expressing support for the UniTeam continues to swell.
Among the latest groups to pledge their support are the United Beki of the Philippines, Inc. (UBPI), a group belonging to the third sex community, the Filipinos for Peace, Justice, and Progress Movement (FPJPM), the People’s Patriotic Movement (PPM), and Alyansang Duterte-Bongbong (ALDUB).
Atty. Vic Rodriguez, Marcos’ spokesman and chief of staff met with June Noya president of UBPI; San Juan, La Union Councilor Nikkie Valero Velilla of ALDUB La Union; Egay Maranan of PPM; and Joseph Cadsawan of FPJPM who all personally expressed their support to Marcos.
The SEC-registered UBPI is one of the largest gay and lesbian organizations in the country. It hs over 300,000 members, but Noya assures that there are 100,000 registered voters among their members.
For Maranan, 126 organizations in their groups have committed to fully undertake all UniTeam related activities.
Velilla said it was 2016 when they pushed the ALDUB or Alyansang Duterte-Bongbong. “Pero ngayon, buhay uli kami sa La Union para naman sa Marcos-Duterte,” Velilla said, referring to 82 provinces covered by ALDUB. Most of them are members of the PDP-Laban now.
“Buhay na buhay kami at andun pa rin ang spirit,” he said.
Cadsawan said it was his father who founded the Fernando Poe Jr. for President Movement (FPJPM). It then evolved and became the “Filipinos for Peace, Justice, and Progress Movement” with the command votes of almost two million Filipinos.
A board resolution approved their support for UniTeam, allowing them to thwart a lawmaker’s demand to endorse Isko Moreno’s candidacy.
Image credits: Roy Domingo