No problem working with Grace – Bongbong

BANGUED, Abra, Philippines – Vice presidential aspirant Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. sees no problem working with his “sister” presidential bet Sen. Grace Poe if they both win in the May 9 elections.

“Wala problema kung si Sen. Grace Poe manalo, kapatid ko siya (No problem if Grace wins, she is my sibling),” he joked to a cheering crowd of local leaders in the Abra gymnasium here last Tuesday.

He later said he was only joking about his blood ties with Poe, who is rumored to be a daughter of Marcos’ father, former president Ferdinand Marcos and Rosemarie Sonora, the sister of Poe’s mother Susan Roces.

Senator Marcos said he would also have no problem cooperating with any of the other candidates in the presidential race if he wins.

Marcos said Liberal Party standard-bearer Manuel Roxas II is a cousin of his wife Liza, while he and United Nationalist Alliance standard-bearer Vice President Jejomar Binay are both from the north. Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte is also a good friend.

In an open forum, Marcos clarified that he did not become a politician to follow the footsteps of his late father but to pursue his own vision of progress and development. 

He said the administration of his father ended 30 years ago, and it’s time for the country to move on.

The country and the world have changed and the Filipino people are now different, he added.

Rival political leaders in Abra and La Union have decided to set aside their differences and support Marcos for vice president.

In San Fernando, La Union, the Ortega clan, who are running for various posts against each other, welcomed Marcos at the San Fernando airport.

In Abra, Marcos met local political leaders and heads of various people’s organizations.

The political leaders led by the Valera and Bersamin families agreed to come together at the Bangued gymnasium to meet Marcos and express their full support.

Marcos expressed confidence that his campaign is gathering momentum to make the “Solid North” alliance the bedrock of his advocacy for national unity. 

Marcos noted that since 1986, the Solid North has remained relatively dormant and had only showed signs of its latent force when Ilocanos backed his candidacy for the Senate in 2010. 

Marcos said it’s time the Solid North again display the unity the Ilocano people are known for and show to the entire country what a united people can do, particularly in achieving the vision of a brighter future for all Filipinos. 

The La Union sortie yesterday capped a three-day caravan to four provinces in the North that began Tuesday when Marcos and his presidential running mate Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago kicked off their campaign in Batac City, Ilocos Norte, followed by other stops in Marcos’ home province, Ilocos Sur and La Union.

Marcos said local government units (LGUs) could save the country from a full-blown unemployment crisis feared to be likely when some 1.5 million overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Middle East lose their jobs due to falling oil prices.

Marcos, who attended the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) general assembly at the Marriott Hotel in Pasay City, said government officials should sit down with LGU executives to map out a strategic plan to avert the possible crisis as localities host the employment sector like manufacturing, services, construction and other industries.

He said local officials could convince investors to open or expand the hiring program and provide jobs to the displaced OFWs.