Marcos on admin's campaign: No threats, invectives here

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Tuesday made a pitch for his senatorial candidates, saying the public cannot hear any threats or foul words from them. 

Marcos opened his remarks by saying he was checking if his candidates were safe from a grenade blast. 

“Pagbigyan niyo po ako at tinitingnan ko lang po ang ating mga kandidato at tinitiyak ko at wala pang napasabugan ng granada,” Marcos said in his speech. 

”Kaya wala po kayong maririnig. ‘Yan na po ang kaibahan ng Alyansa sa lahat ng ibang mga tumatakbo dito sa halalan na ito. Wala po kayong maririnig na masasamang salita. Wala po kayong maririnig na panakot. Wala po kayong maririnig na pagmumura,” Marcos added. 

(Forgive me for checking on my candidates and making sure none of them were injured in a grenade blast. That is why you will not hear. That is what sets Alyansa candidates apart from the others who are running in these elections. You will not hear offensive words, threats, or cursing.)

Former President Rodrigo Duterte at a campaign rally last week raised the idea of killing senators so that his party's candidates would all be elected into the Senate. He also adverted to doing so with an explosion.

His allies have all said he was only joking but the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group has filed a complaint against him before the Department of Justice.

Present at the administration ticket's campaign rally in Pasay City on Tuesday were former Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos, Makati City Mayor Abby Binay, Senator Pia Cayetano, Senator Lito Lapid, Senator Imee Marcos, Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., former Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, Senator Francis Tolentino, former Senators Panfilo “Ping” Lacson and Manny Pacquiao, ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo, and House Deputy Speaker Camille Villar.

Stance on issues

At a separate press conference, the administration’s senatorial slate also voiced their sentiments on certain issues, including maintaining peace and order in the society. 

Tolentino said he is supporting the reimposition of the death penalty for heinous crimes, noting that this will ease the upsurge of crimes. 

“Hindi pa rin nagbabago ‘yung pananaw ko diyan. That would be a great deterrent, lalong-lalo na doon sa mga heinous crimes. So, on that aspect, I won't change my mind,” Tolentino said. 

(My views on the matter have not changed.)

For his part, Lacson said full government digitalization would be the key to stopping crimes in society as well as corruption. 

He also said that addressing the problems in peace and order usually stems not from legislation but from poor or lack of enforcement of existing laws.

"What may be needed is to fulfill our oversight functions. We need to see if there is a problem with the implementing rules and regulations, such that they differ from the intent of the law," Lacson said.

When it comes to food security, Sotto bared his proposal for the government to purchase 50% of all local farmers’ output.

Sotto said this strategy would allow the government to buy produce directly from farmers at “fair prices,” while being less dependent on middlemen.

“Ang mangyayari doon (what would happen), the effect is that the government be able to buy from the farmers at their price. Of course, natatamaan [dito] mga middlemen dito,” Sotto said. 

Abalos and Tulfo expressed concerns about the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL), saying that the National Food Authority (NFA) should regain the power to import and sell rice to stabilize prices.

Confidence in NCR votes

The candidates also expressed confidence that they would get votes in Metro Manila due to the President’s full support. 

Pacquiao said the President’s support is a “decisive factor” in the alliance’s push to dominate the National Capital Region, which has 7.32 million registered voters.

“Kumpiyansa kami sa grupo ng Alyansa na ma-12-0 namin dito sa Metro Manila dahil unang-una, suportado kami ng Pangulo at ang programa ng Alyansa ay para talaga sa mga mahihirap na sambayanang Pilipino, at magkaroon tayo ng trabaho at hanapbuhay ang bawat pamilya,” Pacquiao said. 

(We have full confidence that the Alyansa will be able to get 12-0 votes in Metro Manila since, first, the President supports us and our programs are for the benefit of our poor countrymen, and to create more jobs and livelihood for each family.) 

Meanwhile, Abalos said Marcos’ victory in NCR during the 2022 presidential election reflects the trust and confidence that Alyansa hopes to secure in the upcoming elections.

“Noong last presidential election, if I’m not mistaken, the President swept all 17 cities and municipalities in Metro Manila. Overwhelming po ang tiwala na ibinigay sa ating Pangulo (the trust given to our President has been overwhelming). And of course, this is the President’s team, Alyansa,” Abalos said.

Binay and Villar highlighted the coalition’s strong local ties and its understanding of Metro Manila’s pressing issues, including traffic congestion, food inflation, and crime.

The rally in Pasay was held after the administration ticket launched its campaign in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, and held sorties in Iloilo City; and Carmen, Davao del Norte, covering the main islands of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

“We started strong in Ilocos Norte, brought our message to Visayas and Mindanao, and now we are in the heart of the capital,” said Navotas City Rep. Toby Tiangco, Alyansa’s campaign manager.

“Metro Manila is crucial to winning in 2025, and this rally will show that we are ready to bring our vision of progress and unity to every Filipino,” he added. —RF, GMA Integrated News

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