Sara: No candidate assured of victory until proclaimed

MANILA, Philippines — Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio yesterday said she and Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. would continue to work hard in the campaign despite consistently topping pre-election surveys and gathering mammoth crowds in campaign rallies.

The Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) chair said they believe that surveys and rallies are no guarantee of victory.

“Those are nothing because we are always running scared. That should be our mindset because there’s no guarantee that one will win until you are proclaimed,” she added.

Carpio revealed that their tandem dubbed as “BBM-Sara UniTeam” would continue to seek the support of voters until the last day of the campaign period.

“Our campaign is doing good. We continue to conduct different activities in different places in the Philippines to talk to our people. We continue to prepare for the election day and the canvass of votes,” she said.

GMA endorses BBM-Sara

Former president and speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo endorsed the candidacies of Marcos and Carpio on the eve of her 75th birthday yesterday.

Arroyo, who is seeking re-election as representative of her home province Pampanga’s second district, said the government needs the UniTeam tandem if the country is to recover from the adverse effects of the two-year global COVID-19 pandemic.

“Even if BBM is intelligent, we still need Mayor Inday Sara as his vice president, for Marcos to be a good president. This is the reason why I am endorsing Sara,” she told thousands of supporters who attended the rally in Mexico, Pampanga last Monday night.

“So, let’s make sure that we will help the UniTeam in the May 9 elections,” Arroyo, herself a vice president during the time of former president Joseph Estrada, declared as she thanked her fellow cabalens for helping her and former running mate Noli de Castro win in the 2004 elections.

Among local leaders who expressed support for the BBM-Sara team were Pampanga Gov. Dennis Pineda, Vice Gov. Lilia Pineda and 3rd District Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr.

“We have decided to heed and share the UniTeam candidates’ call for unity, hope and patriotism,” Gonzales, who is also a stalwart of the ruling PDP-Laban political party, said.

Carpio wished Arroyo a long, happy, more productive and fulfilling life.

“We wish her (Arroyo) good health, of course, we always wish her happiness and we wish her heart’s desire for the next two, three, four, 50 years more,” Carpio said as she sang a birthday song for her, together with outgoing Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo.

A bouquet of flowers and cake were given to Arroyo, who described last Monday’s event as her “birthday rally” beside the municipal hall of Lubao.

Carpio then delivered her message to Pampagueños, urging them to unite for a better Philippines without the need to follow a specific political color.

“If you are going to choose us as political leaders in the coming May 9 elections, we will carry the whole nation through, with any political color – not red, not green, not yellow, not pink, not orange. We are all one,” she said.

GMA, Erap reunite

With UniTeam senatorial bet Jinggoy Estrada as bridge, former political rivals Estrada and Arroyo greeted each other over the phone that was connected to the venue’s speaker system.

“Happy, happy birthday, madam president,” the older Estrada said.

“Thank you, Mr. President,” Arroyo responded. “Same to you on April 19.”

Estrada will turn 85.

Arroyo and Estrada’s parties, Lakas-CMD and Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino, respectively, are now part of the alliance of parties supporting Marcos and Carpio.

“I hope you run again. We need you. I hope you run again, I’ll be your campaign manager. More power to you, Madam President!” Estrada told Arroyo.

“We need you also,” Arroyo told Estrada.

The event was also attended by senatorial candidates Herbert Bautista, Gringo Honasan, Sagip party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta, former public works secretary Mark Villar, Sen. Win Gatchalian, former senator Loren Legarda, former chief presidential legal adviser Salvador Panelo, Gibo Teodoro, Larry Gadon and actor Robin Padilla.

Audrey Zubiri represented her husband, re-electionist Sen. Migz Zubiri, in the campaign rally. – Delon Porcalla, Ric Sapnu, Emmanuel Tupas