Bongbong to benefit as Bicolano candidates split region’s votes, Enrile says

Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr will benefit the most amid the planned vice presidential run of at least four aspirants from Bicol region, Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile said Tuesday.

“It’s all very obvious. The Bicolanos will have to decide which one they will have to support or they will be split, for sure. With that condition, Senator Marcos will have a distinct advantage,” Enrile told reporters when asked of the scenario.

Marcos hails from Ilocos Norte while Enrile is also an Ilocano from Cagayan.

The vice presidential aspirants from Bicol are Senator Francis Escudero from Sorsogon; Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo is from Naga where her late husband, former Interior Sec. Jesse Robredo, once served as mayor; Senator Antonio Trillanes IV who traces his roots to Ligao, Albay where his late father, Antonio Sr., grew up.

Senator Gregorio Honasan II, who is being wooed by the United Nationalist Alliance to be the running mate of Vice President Jejomar Binay, is also from Sorsogon.

Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano may be added to the mix since his wife, Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano, is from Albay.

Enrile described the Bicolanos as clannish who support their own like some Ilocanos.

“Even the people from the north, you cannot control them in that situation—that if an Ilocano is a candidate for a public office, they will always support an Ilocano. It’s just the culture,” Enrile said.

“The Ilocanos all over the country, they are that cohesive. Except a few individuals or those who maintain their individualism. We are talking of realpolitik. We are not talking of theories,” he added.

However, one of the Bicolano vice presidential hopefuls seems unfazed with the number of aspirants from Bicol. 

“I’m glad that a lot of Bicolanos and Bicolanas are being considered for various positions in government-whether it’s appointive or elective posts. This is a source of pride for the people of Bicol,” Escudero said. —NB, GMA News