Presidential candidate Bongbong Marcos's campaign manager, Benhur Abalos said Friday night, March 12 that they expected a crowd of up to 50,000 for the UniTeam grand rally-slash-concert in Parañaque City, had it not been cancelled due to heavy rains.
"Naka-dalawang ulan na 'to kanina pa. Ang expected namin dito at least 50,000 na crowd. And yet nakita n'yo naman 'yung ibang kababayan natin ayaw umalis (This was the second downpour today. What we expected was a crowd of 50,000. And yet you saw for yourselves that our countrymen didn't want to leave)," Abalos told reporters in an ambush interview at the Aseana Branca Avenue open grounds where the event was held.
A sudden heavy downpour took place at around 6 p.m., leading to the event getting scrapped. The program had already begun at that time.
"In behalf of UniTeam, ako'y nagpapasalamat sa lahat ng mga nandirito. Lumalakas na ang ulan at talagang magkakasakit sila, but we need to call this off, pero babalik kami sa Parañaque City, pangako po namin 'yon (I thank everyone who came here. The rain is getting stronger, they risk getting sick, but we need to call this off. We will be back in Parañaque City, that's promise)," declared Abalos.
Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) standard-bearer Marcos is just one half of UniTeam, the other half being Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) vice presidential bet, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.
Seemingly touched by the effort of the rain-soaked rally attendees who stayed behind, Duterte approached them to have selfies with them.
UniTeam’s senatorial candidates Gilberto "Gibo" Teodoro Jr., former senator Gregorio Honasan, and former presidential spokesman Harry Roque also went to their supporters to personally thank them for showing up.