Written by John Dave Brion & Hero Buaron
Representing their trademark red and green colors, presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Vice-Presidential runningmate Davao Mayor Sara Duterte, dubbed as UniTeam, held a proclamation rally at Villa Alessandra, Malaria, Caloocan City, February 19 along with Team Aksyon At Malasakit attended by an estimated 25,000 supporters.
Priorly, while playing “Bagong Lipunan” jingle – a chilling reminder of abuse for the Martial Law victims, a caravan kicked off from Caloocan Sports Complex, then passed by the route of Camarin, Zapote, Kiko, Glorietta, Tala then halted at Malaria.
With the presence of Caloocan City Mayor Oscar “Oca” Malapitan, his bearer Congressman Along Malapitan, and BBM-Sara’s senatorial slate, which were comprised of Harry Roque, Dante Marcoleta, Mark Villar, Jinggoy Estrada, Win Gatchalian, Gibo Teodoro, Larry Gadon, and allegedly part of the slate Robin Padilla— the candidates were able to express why UniTeam need Caloocan voters’ support.
“Isantabi po natin ang pulitika. Kung tayo po’y makakabangon, kahit galing [tayo] sa pandemya, kinakailangan, ang Norte at ang South, ang mahirap, ang mayaman, ang pro at anti, ang babae, lalaki, kahit anumang kasarinlan, magkasama na, magkaisa para maka recover sa pandemic”, former human rights law and now senatorial candidate under UniTeam ticket Roque said which was followed by his campaign dance.
In Oca Malapitan’s speech, he said that the event will be added as a new history to Caloocan since it was the first time that the city held such a big proclamation rally and the gratitude belongs to presidential candidate Marcos and vice-presidential candidate Mayor Duterte.
Sara Duterte then explained that UniTeam aims to give a face saying that “in unity, there is strength,” and to strengthen the country we need unity.
Marcos sympathized with Duterte as he mentioned again, the importance of unity in addressing the pandemic and economic crisis being faced right now. He also claimed that their advocacy “unity” is a “whisper-turned-outcry,” a movement that started in Caloocan due to the said event.
Meanwhile, some Caloocan citizens stand in front of their own households, San Roque Cathedral, Kalookan Cathedral, Sta. Krus Parish, and with some progressive organizations such as Kabataan Partylist, Bahaghari, Anakbayan, and League of Filipino Students to protest with banners of #NeverAgain and Marcos Magnanakaw which caused some tensions between the two.
Caloocan voters’ support is crucial for Marcos-Carpio tandem as the city is considered the 5th most vote-rich in the Philippines with 700,000 registered voters. Caloocan also falls 3rd with rich-vote in Metro Manila after Quezon city and Manila.
TNC of the North 