Espinos, Cojuangco scion back Bongbong

MANILA, Philippines - Two dominant political families in the vote-rich province of Pangasinan have crossed party lines to support Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. as vice president.

Marcos said the Espino family and the Cojuangco scion in the province have decided to support him in the May elections.

Amado Espino III, son of provincial governor Amado Espino Jr., is the Liberal Party’s bet in the gubernatorial race in the province against Pangasinan Rep. Mark Cojuangco of the Nationalist People’s Coalition.

“Let me give you a prime example: your two groups that are running for governor are both friends of mine. Gov. Spine (the elder Espino) is a good friend of mine and of course, Mark Cojuangco. His father is my ninong (godfather) and has been a very close family friend,” Marcos said.

“I have asked them both for their support and they have both said that they will support me,” Marcos told a press conference in Mangaldan, Pangasinan.

“I think I can report that the so-called Solid North is still very much alive and very solid,” Marcos said after motoring through the towns of Pozzorubio, Manaoag, San Jacinto, San Fabian and Mangaldan. 

Marcos began a two-day sortie of his “Unity Caravan” in the province to fortify the Solid North.

“Pangasinan is a critical province for any national candidate. I will be coming back,” he said.

Marcos added he is getting similar support in other areas of the country. He said the Ortegas in La Union, some of whom are running against other members of the family, expressed their support for his candidacy. 

“Even in Davao, for example, there is the ALDUB. Alyansa ni (Davao City Mayor Rodrigo) Duterte at Bongbong,” he said.

He added there are groups like “BiBo,” a pair up of Vice President Jejomar Binay and Bongbong; “Aroma, as in Alyansang Roxas-Marcos and “Marimar,” a pair up with LP presidential bet Manuel Roxas II.

Marcos is running with Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago as presidential candidate of the People’s Reform Party.

Santiago, meanwhile, topped a survey of the Holy Angel University in Angeles City, Pampanga getting 2, 210 votes or 40 percent of the total respondents.

Duterte placed second with 1,865 or 34 percent, while Sen. Grace Poe got 12 percent, Binay with seven and Roxas at the tail end with four percent.

For vice president, Marcos got the highest number of 1,739 votes or 34 percent. Sen. Francis Escudero gained second place with 1,544 votes or 30 percent; Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano came in third with 1,138 votes or 22 percent.

Administration candidate Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo got 433 votes while Sens. Antonio Trillanes IV and Gregorio Honasan were tied for fourth place with two percent of the votes.           – With Ding Cervantes