The Manny Villar-led Nacionalista Party (NP) has declared its backing of the UniTeam tandem of presidential candidate Bongbong Marcos and his running mate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.
In a one-page statement released by NP through the office of House Deputy Speaker Camille Villar on Tuesday, March 29, the party bared that it "fully supports the candidacies" of Marcos and Mayor Duterte.
Deputy Speaker and Las Piñas City Rep. Villar is the daughter of NP President Villar.
"We believe that Bongbong and Inday Sara’s message of unity is crucial in binding our country together and inspiring our people as we rebuild not only from the pandemic but also from the political chasm that divides us," said the elder Villar, who signed the statement.
"They both have the platforms of government, qualifications and track record to lead our country towards unity and prosperity," the former Senate President added of the "BBM-Sara" tandem.
NP's declaration of support to UniTeam follows that of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) Cusi wing and the National Unity Party (NUP).
Marcos and Duterte are currently campaigning in Mindanao.
Marcos's camp thanked NP for its move in a statement Monday afternoon.
“We thank the officers and members of the Nationalista Party, specially its President and Chairman Manuel B. Villar, for their unequivocal support and endorsement of presidential and vice -presidential frontrunners Bongbong Marcos and Sara Duterte," said lawyer Vic Rodriguez, Marcos's spokesperson.
"The NP endorsement will surely serve as another insurance to the bandwagon of support for the UniTeam from political parties which comes at a time when a clear 61 percent majority of our people have again made known their preference for Bongbong Marcos to be our next president founded on an equally high 53 percent trust rating for him," Rodriguez said, referring to the results of the Laylo survey.
"Indeed, unity is what will hold our country together as we look ahead into the future of making us, Filipinos, world class citizens with nation building as our ultimate collective goal," he added.