Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers has advised his party-mate and birthday celebrant Ilocos Norte 1st district Rep. Sandro Marcos to "follow in the footsteps" of his father, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.
On Tuesday, March 7, Rep. Marcos celebrated his 29th birthday, and Barbers was among those that gave personalized greetings to the presidential son.
"Ito'y payo galing sa isang kuya sa Kongreso (This is an advice coming from an older brother in Congress)," said Barbers, who is a senior member of the Nacionalista Party (NP) in the House of Representatives.
"My advice is maintain his demeanor as a member of the House. Listen while learning," the Mindanaoan said of Rep. Marcos.
"And of course, follow in the footsteps of his dad by being a statesman and a visionary leader of the country," Barbers added. He did not elaborate.
Rep. Marcos is a neophyte congressman; he has never held an elective post prior to winning a House seat during the May 2022 polls. Needless to say, the NP stalwart's political career has just begun.
At any rate, Barbers said that Rep. Marcos' two best coaches are his father, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.; and his uncle, House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Rep. Marcos is a senior deputy majority leader in the current 19th Congress.
The elder Marcos is also a one-time NP member.