SAN FERNANDO CITY, Pampanga--House Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta has already withdrawn his senatorial candidacy under the UniTeam ticket, so what was he still doing at the UniTeam grand rally here Friday night, April 29?
Apparently, the SAGIP Party-list congressman--whose claim to fame is standing up to television and radio giant ABS-CBN and having a hand in its closure--felt the need to address something to the mammoth crowd here at Robinsons Grounds.
"Humarap po ako sa inyo ngayong gabi dahil sa mayroon nagsasabi na iniwan ko na raw ang UniTeam. Hindi po totoo yun (I faced you tonight because someone is saying that I've abandoned UniTeam. That is not true)," Marcoleta said.
"Kahit na ako po ay nag-withdraw, ang akin pong pakikisama sa UniTeam ay nananatili (Even if I've already withdrawn, my camaraderie with UniTeam remains)," said the solon.
He added: "Sapagkat ako po ay naniniwala sa adhikain, sa simulain ng UniTeam sapagkat sila lamang ang nagtataguyod ng kilusan ng pagkakaisa (I believe in the goals, the foundations of UniTeam because they are the only ones that pursued unity)."
Marcoleta then went on to address the audience in Kapampangan, wherein he asked them to support the UniTeam ticket come May 9.
Presidential candidate Bongbong Marcos's spokesperson, lawyer Vic Rodriguez, said he believes that Marcoleta will serve a higher purpose following his bowing out of the Senate race.