The UniTeam tandem of presidential candidate Bongbong Marcos and his running mate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte on Saturday, March 19 received new pledges of support from former members of uniformed services, this time coming from two groups of retired senior officers and enlisted personnel.
The two groups of retired senior officers, including generals and non-commissioned officers from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) separately issued manifestos of support for the UniTeam duo.
They personally handed their statements of support to Marcos and Duterte during a meeting at the office of the Arms Corporation of the Philippines (ARMSCOR) in Marikina City, where the UniTeam ticket carried out two campaign rallies Saturday.
“We firmly believe the UniTeam tandem of Senator Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos and Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio will promote national unity, from the northern islands of Batanes, to the southernmost part of Tawi-Tawi,” read the manifesto For National Unity, For Peace, and For Inclusive Progress signed by at least 486 retired senior officers.
It was later signed by Marcos and Duterte, who are stalwarts of Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) and Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD), respectively.
“We laud the long-term plan of the , which we believe will bring the Philippines back to its former glory,” the statement of support added.
Among the signatories of the manifesto were former Philippine Navy Chief retired Vice Admiral Ernesto de Leon, retired Marine Commandant Major Gen. Edgardo Espinosa, retired Army Lt. Gen. Raul Urgello and retired Major Gens. Eduardo Matillano and Rodrigo De Gracia, PNP.
On the other hand, the enlisted personnel said they believe Marcos and Duterte are the only ones who could continue the “whole of nation” approach in the government’s counterinsurgency and counterterrorism efforts.
“Kay Bongbong Marcos na dati ring sundalo at si Sara Duterte na isang reservist kami nakakasiguro na magiging epektibo ang kanilang liderato sa larangan ng pambansang seguridad, kapayapaan, kaayusan ang kaunlaran na siyang matagal ng inasam asam ng mamamayang Pilipino (We can be sure that the leadership of Bongbong Marcos, an ex-soldier; and Sara Duterte, a reservist, would be effective in the realms of security, peace, order, and progress, which Filipinos have long clamored for),” they said in a manifesto signed by at least 380 non-commissioned officers.
“Sa UniTeam lang naming nakikita na pangangalagaan nila ang Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas at ang pambansang kapulisan. Naniniwala kami na pangangalagaan din nila ang kapakanan ng sundalo at pulis at hindi ang mga kaaway ng bansa (Only in UniTeam do we see that the AFP and PNP would be taken care of. We also believe that they will look after the soldiers and police, and not the enemies of the state)," they added.