Iloilo 1st district Rep. Janette Garin has decided to support presidential candidate Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. for the upcoming May elections after the opposing teams allegedly caused fighting among locals following the attempted use of the "Guimbal Stadium" for Marcos's campaign activity.
"After this happened, yes . Kasi nakita ko na hindi maganda 'yong nagyayari, napinag-aaway-away 'yong mga tao sa baba (Because I saw that what's happening is not good. They made the locals fight each other). It took me long to decide, but I am supporting the BBM-Sara tandem because I believe in their call for unity," Garin told reporters Thursday, Feb. 24.
Garin came up with her realization after seeing that Iloilo residents supporting various presidential candidates were fighting against one another over the use of the Guimbal Stadium for Marcos Jr. and vice presidential candidate Sara Duterte-Carpio's campaign rally.
Supporters of Marcos's opponents claimed the venue is a public school facility, where campaign rallies are not allowed. But Garin asserted that the stadium is "a private entity" since it was donated by the Parents Teachers' Association of adjacent Guimbal National High School.
Garin, who served as Department of Health (DOH) secretary under the late former President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III's Cabinet, said she now believes in Marcos Jr's motivation to disprove the allegations against him.
Garin used to be a member of the Liberal Party (LP), the political party of Marcos Jr.'s main rival, Vice President Leni Robredo.
The lady lawmaker is now part of the Nacionalista Party (NP), Marcos Jr.'s previous party before joining the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) ahead of the May 2022 polls.