The Marcos camp has welcomed the Nationalist People’s Coalition-Tarlac (NPC-Tarlac) into the UniTeam following Tarlac officials’ endorsement of UniTeam tandem Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and running mate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.
“The endorsement by the NPC of the Province of Tarlac for presidential frontrunner Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. and vice presidential candidate Inday Sara Duterte is a most welcome development, as through this generous gesture it inevitably joins the bandwagon of almost all major political parties in the country in supporting and reinforcing the BBM-Sara UniTeam,” said Marcos’s spokesperson Atty, Vic Rodriguez in a statement on Sunday, April 3.
Interestingly, vice presidential candidate and incumbent Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III chairs the NPC.
Sotto is running mate to presidential bet Sen. Panfilo Lacson, both rivaling the Marcos-Duterte alliance in the 2022 polls.
Members of the NPC-Tarlac endorsed the Marcos-Duterte alliance during a UniTeam sortie in Tarlac on Saturday, April 2.
Specifically, it was NPC-Tarlac member and Tarlac Rep. Victor Yap who confirmed the NPC-Tarlac endorsement of the UniTeam candidates.
“Yes, we the provincial NPC and those others (affiliated or not) support the BBM-Sara tandem,” Yap said in a text message to reporters.
To end, Rodriguez described the endorsement as a “historical development.” Tarlac, which is the Aquino family's home province, is considered Aquino bailiwick; they are the family most often associated in opposition to the Marcoses of Ilocos Norte.
“Indeed, we humbly recognize this historical development as a sign for a brighter future...Welcome, NPC-Tarlac, to UniTeam!" Rodriguez concluded.