CAVITE RALLY | Supporters of presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and running mate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte swarm the General Trias Sports Park in Cavite province on Tuesday. Gov. Jonvic Remulla says there were 100,000 inside the stadium and another 40,000 outside, but there was no police confirmation of the crowd size. (Photo by LYN RILLON / Philippine Daily Inquirer)
MANILA, Phlippines 鈥� Ferdinand 鈥淏ongbong鈥� Marcos Jr. on Tuesday said he was 鈥済rateful and happy鈥� over the 鈥渕uch-awaited and much-hoped for鈥� endorsement of his presidential bid by President Rodrigo Duterte鈥檚 Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) party.
鈥淭his new development, this will consolidate the forces of unity so that we can continue to work against those who would want to divide Filipinos against each other,鈥� he told reporters in Tagaytay City after a meeting with village officials in Cavite.
The former senator said the PDP-Laban鈥檚 endorsement was an 鈥渋mportant step鈥� toward unity.
鈥淭hat is what we have been campaigning for and that is our message and that is our dream鈥攖hat we bring the country together,鈥� Marcos said.
His running mate, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, disclosed that Marcos and her father met over the weekend before the PDP-Laban announced its endorsement.
The mayor, who is running as the vice presidential candidate of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) Party, said she was also grateful for PDP-Laban鈥檚 support for her. The party faction led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi announced it was endorsing her early this month.
She said she could not say what her father and Marcos discussed 鈥渂ecause I was not there in the meeting.鈥�
鈥榃eak leader鈥�
But she said she knew of an 鈥渁greement鈥� between the Marcos camp and the PDP-Laban to support the former senator.
In November last year, the President publicly criticized Marcos as a 鈥渨eak leader鈥� and a 鈥渟poiled child鈥� who was carrying 鈥渂aggage.鈥�
He also rejected a possible alliance between the PDP-Laban and Lakas-CMD because 鈥淢arcos is there.鈥�
鈥淚 cannot speak for the president. I do not know what he鈥檚 thinking right now,鈥� the Davao mayor said after she was pressed on whether Duterte was now supporting Marcos.
In a statement, Victor Rodriguez, spokesperson for Marcos, said the support from the President鈥檚 party was 鈥渞eassuring鈥� amid 鈥済rowing rumors of possible poll fraud in the coming elections.鈥�
Despite the endorsement, Rodriguez said Marcos would not be complacent 鈥渁s the forces that try to put him down ever since, has not ceased, and apparently has even intensified their gutter ways.鈥�
He said they were thankful that the PDP-Laban was joining 鈥渢he crescendoing chorus of national unification.鈥�
At a press conference on Tuesday, Cusi indicated that the President鈥檚 criticism of Marcos did not carry much weight as the son and namesake of the ousted dictator was chosen because he 鈥渋s the candidate whose platform is most aligned with the development program鈥� of Duterte.
Same as Duterte support?
Cusi could not say whether the party鈥檚 decision was tantamount to Duterte鈥檚 support for Marcos鈥� presidential bid.
Malaca帽ang could not make a categorical statement either.
鈥淚t is clear that this is the decision of the party, but it is not clear if this is also what the President wants,鈥� said acting presidential spokesperson Martin Andanar.
Cusi dismissed criticisms that the endorsement was against one of the party鈥檚 founding principles, when it was established in 1982, of fighting the dictatorship represented by Marcos and that they were now going beyond that.
鈥淲e are moving forward because if we always think of the past and we live by the past, nothing will happen to us. If we were rotten before, we will still be rotten now. We need to move forward,鈥� he said.
University of the Philippines political science professor Maria Ela Atienza said the PDP-Laban鈥檚 endorsement was 鈥減ractically meaningless鈥� because political parties in the Philippines were very weak.
Eroded credibility
As an administration party, the PDP-Laban was a 鈥渇ailure鈥� because it was unable to produce a standard-bearer after being wracked by internal fighting, she said.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e looking for candidates to adopt so it already betrays the weakness of the administration party,鈥� Atienza said.She noted that the Cusi wing itself was divided because some of its members were supporting other presidential candidates.
The PDP-Laban has also eroded its credibility by endorsing Marcos despite its origins, she said.
Atienza also pointed out that no candidate for president endorsed by the ruling party, except Fidel V. Ramos, has won the elections since 1986.
Political strategist Victor Andres Manhit of , disagreed, saying the PDP-Laban鈥檚 endorsement would strengthen Marcos鈥� position.
Manhit said courting support from political parties could show that Marcos was 鈥減ossibly concerned with the possible momentum being built鈥� by his chief rival, Vice President Leni Robredo, or that he would like to 鈥渃oncretize his lead.鈥�
鈥淧olitical parties, especially if you鈥檙e the ruling party, are powerful,鈥� he said.
Right now, the PDP-Laban is the strongest party because of the number of legislative districts and governors it has and they can provide the political machinery for the Marcos campaign, Manhit said.
鈥淔or me, you don鈥檛 need express endorsement [from the President] when you have a Cabinet secretary led by Cusi, it鈥檚 the wing that represents the President, and second, the daughter and some of the loyal supporters, are all with Bongbong campaign,鈥� he said.
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