Marcos: Winners in 2025 polls should know how to set aside political differences

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said Thursday those who will win in the upcoming midterm polls should be the ones who know how to set aside political differences. 

Marcos made the remark during the alliance signing of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas and the Nacionalista Party for the 2025 elections. 

Present during the signing were key government officials including PFP president Reynaldo Tamayo Jr., Nacionalista chairperson Manny Villar, Senator Cynthia Villar, and Nacionalista national director Mark Villar.

“And that is why we are here today to formalize this relationship and to prepare ourselves to make sure that the leadership that will come, that will win after the election --- the midterm election next year are the leaders who understand that we must put our partisan, our personal differences aside, whatever they may be,” Marcos said in his speech. 

“Mayroong malaki, mayroong maliit. Ngunit, ang pinakamahalaga ay magkasundo tayo kung ano man ang pinakamaganda para matulungan natin ang ating mga kababayan,” he added. 

(There are big and small differences but what's important is that we agree on what's the best to help our people.)

Marcos' remark came a day after Vice President Sara Duterte said that the country was being led by officials who are disloyal to their sworn duty.

Duterte stressed that the Philippines should be led by people who care and have the ability to promote clean government and the development of the country.

Marcos said that at present, it has been manifested that unity is the key for the Philippines to move forward. To recall, unity has been the centerpiece of Marcos' campaign during Eleksyon 2022.

''If we are spending our time, our resources and our energy with opposing one another, for political means, then we have very little time, resources, and energy left for transforming our country into a better place, to transforming the lives of our people,'' Marcos said.

''And to say that we will --- we came into office and when we leave office, that we leave the Philippines a better country and we leave the Filipinos in a better condition than we found them, when we first came into office,'' he added.

The President expressed gratitude to the Nacionalista Party as he called on party officials to help people they know who do not think about politics but the country. 

“Kaya't ako'y nagpapasalamat sa ating mga kasamahan sa Nacionalista na tayo ay nagkaroon na ng formal alliance at ngayon ay paghandaan na natin na mailagay natin, matulungan natin ang mga kilala natin na talagang iniisip lamang ay hindi ang politika, hindi ang partido, hindi ang sarili kung hindi ang ating minamahal na Pilipinas,” Marcos said. 

(I thank our colleagues in the Nacionalista Party for this formal alliance and now, we should prepare to help public servants who do not think about politics, the political party, their own interest but our beloved Philippines.)—AOL/RSJ, GMA Integrated News