President Ferddinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. (Noel Pabalate/MANILA BULLETIN)

TRECE MARTIRES, Cavite--The Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial slate believes that being aligned with and endorsed by President Marcos remains an "advantage" over other candidates in the upcoming mid-term polls.

This, despite the perceived anti-Marcos sentiment in the aftermath of former president Rodrigo Duterte's arrest and detention by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

"May advantage. Alam naman natin na may tatlong taon pa si President Bongbong Marcos (There's an advantage. We know that President Marcos still has three years),” Navotas City lone district Rep. Toby Tiangco, Alyansa’s campaign manager, told reporters in press conference here Friday, March 21.

According to him, Marcos' accomplishments during his first three years in office are plain to see--like a proof of concept for Alyansa.

“Katulad ng ginawa niya rito, pinuntahan niya ang mga proyekto niyang napakahalaga—‘yung CALAX (Cavite-Laguna Expressway). At alam naman natin na hindi naman diyan nagtatapos ang mga proyekto, so marami pang mga proyekto in the pipeline,” Tiangco said.

(Like what he did here, he went to see his very important projects here--the CALAX [Cavite-Laguna Expressway]. And we know that the projects don't end there, there are still a lot of projects in the pipeline.)

Tiangco stressed that the Senate plays a vital role in ensuring these programs move forward.

“Para matuloy ang mga napakagagandang proyektong ito, napakahalaga na ‘yung legislative agenda niya ay masuportahan ng mga kasamahan nating senador. Kung titingnan ng ating mga kababayan ‘yang bagay na ‘yan sa ganitong perspektibo, maniniwala sila na talagang importante na masuportahan ang Alyansa,” he explained. 

(In order for these very laudable programs to continue, it's important for our senators here to support his legislative agenda. If our countrymen look at it in that perspective, then they will believe that it's important to support Alyansa.)

Tiangco reiterated that Alyansa offers candidates who are not only aligned with the administration’s priorities but are also highly competent.

Look forward 

Alyansa senatorial candidate and former Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III echoed this forward-looking message when asked if the slate is being affected by political controversies, including Duterte's arrest.

“I’d rather not look at the past. I’d rather look forward,” said Sotto, the most seasoned among the administration Senate bets.

“We have very good programs. We have a track record to back us up, and we have the experience to be able to deliver these programs well. That is definitely good for the country,” he said.

Another Alyansa candidate, former Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, said he initially had doubts about running, but ultimately saw that his advocacies "aligned" with the administration’s governance priorities.

“Noong unang-una kaming ipinakausap ni President Bongbong…kinausap kami kung sakali raw kami ay tatakbo, baka pwedeng doon kami sa administration slate. At that time I was reluctant, not because ayaw ko, kundi reluctant ako kung tatakbo pa o hindi,” he said.

(When President Bongbong first spoke to us...he asked if we could join the administration slate if we were going to run. At that time I was reluctant, not because I didn't want to join, but because I was still undecided on running.

He added: “Nakikita ko ‘yung alignment ng aking mga matagal nang advocacies doon sa ginagawa ni Pangulong Bongbong, particularly pagdating sa budget. Ibaba natin ‘yung biyaya ng national budget sa mga local government units (LGUs)—at ‘yun nga ‘yung talagang ginagawa niya.”

(I could see the alignment of my longtime advocacies with what President Bongbong is doing, particularly on the budget. Let's make sure that the benefits of the budget trickles down to the LGUs--and that's really what he's doing.)