‘Solid North’ vote depends on candidate – Bongbong

DAGUPAN CITY, Philippines – Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. believes the much-vaunted “solid North” vote for candidates seeking elective national posts remains solid.

He said, however, the “solid North” vote depends on the candidate.

Marcos said for a while, Ilocanos did not vote as one behind any candidate.  

“But in 2010, we felt that there was again unity among the Ilocanos. That was an important part of my campaign,” Marcos told local reporters here before attending an event in Mangaldan town yesterday.

He said the results of the 2010 elections indicated that “we were able once again to unify the Ilocano vote in 2010,” the year he was elected to the Senate.

For a long time, Marcos said the solid North disappeared and did not vote as one.

“But we were able to bring back, we were able to unify once again the North to show there’s still the solid North,” he said.

Marcos said he works hard to gain the Ilocano vote, adding it is a very important point of support to him as a national candidate.

He said one of the lessons learned in national politics is the difficulty to win a national position without a bailiwick.

Marcos stressed the Philippines is not comprised of Ilocanos only. “That is just the beginning, we will have to go (to other places) and get support from everyone else,” he added.

Marcos though said that he has no final decision yet on what position he would run for in next year’s polls.

“Like you, I also get different news, that allegedly the announcement (for his presidential or vice presidential bid) was to be made yesterday or today but this did not come from me,” he said. 

Marcos revealed there were discussions in the Nacionalista Party (NP) where he is a member.

“I do not want to pre-empt anything, any decisions that the party will be making,” he said.

“So I have to ask for your patience but I can promise you this, malapit na (already near),” Marcos said, stressing a reelection to the Senate remains an option.

He said it is difficult to be divided and he does not want division in the NP.

“I’d prefer that we are united. That is the strength of Nacionalista Party. It is not the biggest party but it is the most cohesive one and we hope to keep it that way,” Marcos said.

Aside from Marcos, Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Antonio Trillanes IV are also being eyed as possible vice presidential bets from NP.

A convention of the NP “would seem to be the most equitable way to determine it,” according to Marcos.

He said he is studying all the different elements regarding the elections.

“As you can see, this is an unusual election because even the administration has not yet completed its slate,” he said.

Marcos has been with the NP since 2009, although his father and namesake, the late President Ferdinand Marcos founded the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL).

He said he has not been a member of the KBL for a long time as at some point, its leadership parted ways.

Marcos earlier lashed out at Marcos loyalist Oliver Lozano for spreading stories about his supposed presidential bid.- With Perseus Echeminada