Marcos to PFP: 2025 polls not business as usual

MANILA, Philippines — The May 2025 midterm elections will not be “business as usual” due to changes in the political landscape, President Marcos yesterday told allies belonging to his political party, Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP).

At the PFP convention in Manila, Marcos highlighted the need to prepare campaign logistics, funding and schedules and coordinate with other members of the administration coalition to address potential issues.

“We know that this election will not be business as usual because there are a lot of changes. I don’t need to explain all of these things to you, all of you are experienced politicians. These things like social media, the political developments we are seeing in the reports, all of these are moving fast,” Marcos said.

The President, who is also chairman of the PFP, gave assurance that the party is ready to fund campaign costs.

“I heard Mr. Anton Lagdameo is ready to release huge sums,” he said. “You keep on asking for funds so I said, ‘Go ahead, you release it.’ These are the basic things we need to do for this election.”

Scheduling of activities, Marcos noted, is not a small matter since the PFP has to coordinate with other members of the Bagong Pilipinas coalition.

“Although we are the lead party, we are part of an alliance and we are with other parties. All the major parties of the Philippines are with us... We have to be ready because I think the convention of all the party members of the alliance will be on Sept. 26,” he said.

The administration coalition will decide on many issues during the convention, Marcos noted, including possible rivalries that stem from alliance members seeking common posts.

Marcos said he is opposed to declaring a “free zone” as it would lead to more complications. If an area is a free zone, national leaders of a party would not intervene in local politics.

Marcos expressed hope that the committees of the party are ready before its next meeting.