BALAYAN, Batangas – BATANGAS Gov. Hermilando “Dodo” Mandanas is convinced that the UniTeam tandem of Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) standard-bearer former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. and Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) vice presidential bet Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte is exactly what the country needs at this time.
“Magkaisa tayo, ‘yan ang pamamaraan. Hindi ‘yung magbangayan. Talagang magkaisa. Ang layunin natin ay talagang itaas ang dangal ng mga Pilipino,” Mandanas appealed to Filipinos Thursday, during an ambush interview on the sidelines of the BBM-Sara UniTeam’s huge campaign rally in Balayan, Batangas.
The campaign battle cry of Marcos and Duterte, who were both present at the event, has been that of unity.
Answering a question during interview, Mandanas acknowledged that Batangueños in particular haven’t carried Marcos to victory in past elections.
But he said the May 2022 polls will be different, since the conditions are now different.
“Yung mga nakaraang eleksyon kakaiba ang mga kondisyon, ngayon ang kailangan natin ay pamumuno na kapares ni BBM at ni Sara, for president at vice president. Kailangan lagi nating didinggin, ano ang kailangan natin ngayon at sa hinaharap,” Mandanas said.
With this, the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) stalwart guaranteed that the entire province of Batangas would be behind BBM-Sara come election day.
“Yes hindi lamang Balayan [ang susuporta], buong Batangas…dahil kaisa kami sa diwa at ipinaglalaban na kailangan na natin magkaisa. Ang Batangas kilala tayo na laging nangunguna sa pagpapataas ng dangal. Mawala na ang ating yaman, ‘wag lang ang ating yabang, ang ating dangal,” Mandanas said.
He said Batangas has 1.8 million registered voters.
Meanwhile, Batangas 1st district Rep. Eileen Ermita-Buhain highlighted to her fellow Batangueños the advantage that Marcos and Duterte have when it comes to leading the country in the next six years.
“Tayong lahat ay pagtulung-tulungan ho natin, iboto po natin ang ating magiging presidente, Presidente Bongbong Marcos and of course Vice President Mayor Inday Sara Duterte. Ako po ay tumataya po sa dalawang kandidatong ito. Sila ay galing sa executive [branch] at alam po nila ang gagawin dahil pagdating po sa ibaba ay alam po nila ang damdamin ng ating mamamayan,” Ermita-Buhain said.
House Majority Leader and Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin G. Romualdez, Batangas Vice Gov. Mark Liveste and Lakas-CMD Batangas provincial chairman and former Executive Sec. Eduardo Ermita attended the rally held at the Balayan Government Center organized by Balayan Mayor JR Fronda.
Mandanas and Leviste also led Batangas local officials from Balayan, Lian, Nasugbu, Tuy, Calaca, Calatagan, Lemery, and Taal
in hosting a lunch with Duterte, Marcos and senatorial candidates at the Calatagan Golf Club in Calatagan, Batangas.
Later in the afternoon, Mandanas and Leviste also held a rally for Duterte and other senatorial candidates at the Calatagan Gymnasium.