LAOAG, ILOCOS NORTE, Philippines 鈥� President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has called on Filipinos to vote straight for all Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial candidates if they do not want a return to the country鈥檚 bloody past.
In his speech during the Alyansa鈥檚 proclamation rally here on Tuesday, Marcos asked if Filipinos want to return to a time when the Philippines was being sold to foreigners as a land for gambling, and a moment when the country was a killing field due to the drug war.
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鈥淏abalik ba tayo sa nakaraan na ibinubugaw ang ating bayan bilang isang sugalan ng mga dayuhan? Nais ba nating bumalik sa landas na umaapaw sa dugo ng mga inosenteng mga bata na inagaw sa kanilang mga ina, kinuha sa kanilang mga tahanan, at inagaw ang kanilang kinabukasan?鈥� Marcos asked.
(Will we go back to a time when our country is being sold off as a gambling location for foreigners? Do we want to return to a point where our streets are filled with blood from innocent children who were stolen from their parents, grabbed from their homes, and their futures seized?)
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鈥淜aya鈥檛 sa darating na Mayo po, 鈥檞ag niyo na pong tignan ang mga ibang mga pangalan, i-shade niyo na po lahat po itong nandito na, nasa harap ninyo, at gawin nating 12-0 ang ating resulta sa Senado, nang sa gano鈥檔, matitiyak natin ang kinabukasan ng ating minamahal na Pilipinas,鈥� he added.
(That鈥檚 why this coming May, do not look at the other names, just shade all these candidates before you, and let us make it 12-0 for Alyansa in the Senate, for us to ensure the future of our beloved Philippines.)
According to the President, no Filipino wants the government to revert back to its old ways鈥攚hich is why it will be important to elect senators who were not part of past schemes.
鈥淲alang nagnanais na Pilipino na mabalik tayo sa ganyang klaseng pagpatakbo. Kaya naman, makakatiyak po kayo na kapag ang ating mga kandidato ay naluklok sa Senado at sila ay nagsimula ng trabaho, asahan po ninyo na sila po ay hindi makikihalo, hindi makikilahok sa ganyang bagay na ating iniwanan na at na ayaw na ayaw balikan,鈥� he said.
(No Filipino wants to be back to that kind of governance. That鈥檚 why I can assure you that if our candidates win the Senate and start their jobs, you can expect that they would not be part or get involved in these activities that we do not want to return to.)
鈥淚to po ang aming ipinagmamalaki. Ito po ang ating mga kandidato ng Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas. Ito po ang hinaharap namin sa inyo, ang pinaka-magagaling na Pilipino, pinaka-masipag na nagseserbisyo publiko, at ang buong buhay nila ay itinaya na nila,鈥� he added.
(We are proud of them, the candidates for the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas. They are who we have to offer, the best Filipinos, the most hardworking in terms of public service, and they have offered their lives for the country.)
Marcos鈥� speech appeared to be a jab at the former president Rodrigo Duterte鈥檚 administration, as he mentioned several issues thrown against his predecessor like human rights violations in the drug war, alleged mismanagement during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the proliferation of Philippine offshore gaming operators.
The Chief Executive also appeared to criticize Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder and senatorial bet Apollo Quiboloy鈥攁 close ally of Duterte. According to Marcos, none of the Alyansa senatorial candidates play holy only to be charged for allegedly abusing women and minors as young as 12 years old.
These are not the only allusions that Marcos made in his fiery speech: prior to that, the President said that he pities other political parties who are seemingly begging for strong senatorial candidates.
According to the President, it seems that some of the candidates of other parties were just asked to deliver vinegar and got certificates of candidacy for the Senate race.
Quiboloy is part of the eight-person slate of the PDP, the party affiliated with Duterte.
Alyansa meanwhile is fielding the following candidates:
- former Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos
- Makati City Mayor Abby Binay
- Senator Pia Cayetano
- Senator Imee Marcos
- Senator Lito Lapid
- former Senator Panfilo Lacson
- former Senator Manny Pacquiao
- Senator Ramon 鈥淏ong鈥� Revilla Jr.
- former Senate President Vicente Sotto III
- Senator Francis Tolentino
- ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo, and
- House Deputy Speaker Camille Villar