ELEKSYON 2022

Bongbong-Sara tandem includes ex-DPWH chief Villar in Senate slate

The tandem of former Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte has included former Public Works Secretary Mark Villar in their Senate slate for the 2022 elections.

"Iluluklok po natin sa Senado 'yang si Mark Villar [We will elect Mark Villar to the Senate). I don't need to be campaign for him a lot because you can see his work, when you travel, you can see the projects, infrastructure," Marcos Jr. said during a gathering in Cavite hosted by Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr.

"Ramdam na ramdam sa buong Cavite at sa buong bansa, si Secretary Mark Villar [You can feel Mark Villar here in Cavite and even nationwide]," he added.

Marcos Jr. later told reporters that Villar's inclusion in the slate was not unexpected, citing his friendship with the former Cabinet official's family and previous affiliation with the Nacionalista Party (NP). Villar is running for senator under the NP. 

“That’s not a surprise for me because to tell you the truth, Mark Villar was the first one on our senatorial list because siya ‘yung una kong nakausap (he was the first person I talked to)," he said.

Marcos Jr. added he would announce his senatorial lineup in the "next few days."

"We just have to fix the arrangements between different parties," he said.

Asked if the NP had committed to backing his presidential bid, Marcos Jr. answered, "You have just to ask the Nacionalista Party. It’s not my place to talk about what their plans are."

Villar, a member of the PDP-Laban faction led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, is joining former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque and former Senator Jinggoy Estrada of Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino in Marcos-Duterte's Senate slate.

Marcos Jr., son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr., and Duterte, daughter of President Rodrigo Duterte, are running under the UniTeam coalition.

Villar, meanwhile, is the son of former Senate President Manny Villar and incumbent Senator Cynthia Villar.   — with a report from Sandra Aguinaldo/KBK/VBL, GMA News