Team Fari帽as holds a press briefing on Monday, May 9, 2022, as the members of the clan attempt a comeback in the provincial capitol and Laoag City Hall. PHOTO: John Michael Mugas
LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte鈥擳he two warring political families in Ilocos Norte province鈥搕he Fari帽ases and Marcoses鈥揳re willing to drop any tension that had built up during the 2022 campaign season.
If there is one political race that had kept voters in the province on the edge of their seats this year it was the one run by rivals incumbent First District Rep. Ria Fari帽as, the daughter of veteran politician and gubernatorial candidate Rodolfo 鈥淩udy鈥� Fari帽as, and Sandro Marcos, the son of presidential candidate Ferdinand 鈥淏ongbong鈥� Marcos Jr.
Speaking to local reporters after he cast his vote in Laoag City on Monday morning, May 9, Sandro said he wished his political competitor Ria 鈥渁ll the best and good luck in the elections.鈥�
鈥淚 hope alam niya kung anong naranasan namin ngayong kampanyang ito, and I still consider her as a friend,鈥� Sandro said, noting that they had known each other from the House of Representatives when he worked under his uncle, House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez.
When asked if their families would mend their ties after the elections, Sandro said: 鈥淭here is nothing to reconcile. I consider them as my friends and never ako gumawa ng issue. Never ako nambato ng kahit ano man.鈥�
During a press briefing on Monday, Ria said she also wished her political opponent 鈥済ood luck and all the best.鈥�
Her father said they would be 鈥渞econciliatory鈥� after the elections, regardless of the outcome.
鈥淪ana naman maging okay, wala namang personal na away,鈥� Rudy said.
In November last year, Rudy beat the substitution deadline and came out of his retirement to run as Ilocos Norte governor against incumbent Matthew Marcos Manotoc, the son of Sen. Imee Marcos, after the Marcos clan 鈥減itted鈥� Sandro against Ria.
Rudy noted that the most important among the election contests for the Fari帽ases, who have at least eight members running for local positions, is that of Ria.
The first district of Ilocos Norte is known as the political base of the Fari帽ases, while the Marcoses kept the second district.
Leader of the opposition?
Despite being at odds with the Marcoses in the 2022 polls, Rudy said that he rallied support for Marcos Jr., albeit passively.
He would have been openly supportive of Marcos Jr. if they let Ria run uncontested.
鈥淢agkaibigan naman kami. Pero pinalabanan si Ria kaya ganito ang situation,鈥� Rudy said.
Rudy revealed that the camp of presidential candidate and Vice President Leni Robredo had tried to get his support.
This would have opened the possibility of Rudy being an 鈥渙pposition leader鈥� in the province against the Marcoses as hoped for by the Ilocano supporters of Robredo.
The 鈥淜akampinks鈥� here actively campaigned for Robredo, going house to house, which had not been seen before for any political candidate in the Marcos bailiwick.
Rudy then asked for the understanding of the Ilocano supporters of Robredo as their situation was complicated. Risking it would mean that they would lose their voters鈥� base that are also backing Marcos Jr., he said.
鈥淎lam niyo naman tayo, whether we like it or not, we are regionalistic. And we vote for someone from our place,鈥� he said.聽 /ra