President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. noticeably left out senatorial candidate Camille Villar in his endorsement speech during a campaign event for the Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas Senate slate in Batangas on Saturday, May 3.
Villar, who had been mentioned in Marcos’ previous speeches despite not being physically present, was excluded from the president’s lineup this time—just days after he ordered a probe into PrimeWater, a utility firm led by the Villar family, following mounting consumer complaints.
The omission came in contrast to Vice President Sara Duterte’s earlier public support for Villar and Senator Imee Marcos, citing their shared goals despite Imee’s departure from the alliance.
During the rally, Marcos veered away from the usual generic endorsements and focused on laying out tangible projects he vowed to complete before his term ends. Among them: expanding agricultural support through more rice processing plants, improving power and water supply, and advancing infrastructure developments.
“In the last two years, we have already built 150 rice processing plants. By 2025, we’ll finish 20 more and begin constructing 50 additional plants,” he shared.
He also emphasized the Metro Manila Subway Project as a landmark solution to traffic congestion, noting how it will be the country’s first underground train system—something once seen only in films.
Marcos further committed to bringing internet connectivity to all corners of the country. “This year, even the areas still without internet will finally be connected,” he said, promising nationwide digital inclusion before the end of his term.
The Alyansa slate is scheduled to continue its campaign trail in Cebu on Monday, May 5, upon the invitation of Governor Gwen Garcia for the One Cebu Rally—exactly a week ahead of the May 12 elections.
