President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to national progress as he rallied support for the Alyansa Para Sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial slate for the 2025 elections. Speaking to voters, Marcos emphasized that fear should not dictate governance.
“Mga kababayan, malinaw ang direksyon natin. Ang direksyon natin ay ang mapaunlad ang Pilipinas, hindi mang-aapi. Pag-unlad, hindi takot ang solusyon,” he said in a GMA News Online report.
Marcos added that the coalition’s candidates are dedicated to advancing the interests of Filipinos. Among those present at the campaign rally were former Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos, Makati City Mayor Abby Binay, and several senators and former lawmakers, including Pia Cayetano, Lito Lapid, Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., and Francis Tolentino. However, Senator Imee Marcos, the President’s sister, was absent.
The event also highlighted key policy proposals from the slate. Binay called for a ban on crop importation during local harvest seasons, Sotto pushed for the government to buy half of agricultural products at farmgate prices, and Pacquiao outlined a plan to eliminate middlemen profiting off farmers.
Meanwhile, discussions on national issues surfaced, particularly the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte. Sotto remarked that if elected, the new Senate should be ready to handle an impeachment trial, calling it an unprecedented political spectacle.
“Walang tatalo doon, parang telenovela ‘yon papanoorin ng buong Pilipinas ‘yon ‘di ba?” Sotto said, referring to the potential media attention an impeachment trial would garner.
The issue of political violence in Negros Oriental was also addressed, with Abalos noting a significant decline in killings since Governor Roel Degamo’s assassination in 2023. Tolentino echoed this sentiment, saying the province is on track to regain its status as a peaceful destination for tourists.
