By
Leilanie G. Adriano
Staff reporter
Laoag City—The
“Solid North” is expected to go to Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos’ vice
presidential bid; but Ilocanos, especially in Ilocos Norte is mixing and
matching him with different “presidentiables”.
As
Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte visited the
province recently, Ilocanos here are saying they could match him with Mr.
Marcos.
“We
are supporting Senator Bongbong and Mayor Duterte because of what they spouse—disiplina at pagkakaisa para sa isang progresibong
bansa. If we have discipline, we have peace and order. Wala tayong drugs, walang
corruption,” said Retired Admiral Reuben Lista, convenor of the Alyansang
Duterte-Bongbong or ALDuB for short.
“Matagal ng wala tayong unity as a
nation. Yun ang sinisigay ni Senator
Bongbong, magkaisa tayo and with
discipline which Mayor Duterte has shown in his stewardship in Davao, there is
no way except to move forward as a nation,” he added citing lessons from the
past and blaming one another is not helping the country but instead “we should
plan ahead as a united country,” he added.
Composed
of national alliance from groups of Overseas Filipino Workers, Seafarers and
some retired generals, professionals, Association of Barangay Council and the
business sector, ALDuB supporters patiently waited for almost four hours at the
Laoag International Airport on February 19. Mr. Duterte was expected to touch
down on a private plane at 1 pm but arrived 2:45 pm instead due to
traffic.
Wearing
a white statement shirt with Duterte-Bongbong in large bold letters with an
embossed golden sun symbol in the middle, hundreds of supporters from various
parts of the province gathered at the airport to welcome him.
Local
leader volunteers for ALDuB said they invited Mr. Duterte to visit Ilocos Norte
saying “there is no political rally involved.”
“He
is not coming here for a political rally. He is coming here to meet volunteers
of ALDuB and friends of Duterte who is supporting him. It’s purely private and
when the governor learned about it, she called him if he could speak on
federalism with the League of Barangay Captains which was held at the
Provincial Capitol on February 19.
Like
Marilyn Aldos, 57, who travelled from her hometown Bangui to Laoag City, she
said she likes Duterte's strong way of leadership “kamay na bakal” to instill discipline among people.
“It’s
what our country needs today. Gusto ko
ang kanyang pamamalakad sa gobierno gaya ng pagdisiplina niya sa mga tao sa
Davao. Siya ay isang matapang na lider at
may paninindigan," she said.
As
supporters welcomed Mr. Duterte’s party at the airport, the group,
including motorcycle riders joined a motorcade going to the Capitol where
he was met by Ilocos Norte Governor Maria Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos and Ilocos
Norte Vice Governor Eugenio Angelo M. Barba.
Several
Ilocos Norte mayors also met with Mr. Duterte at the Capitol after which they
proceeded in Batac City to visit the Marcos mausoleum and met with students at
the Mariano Marcos State University through the invitation of the MMSU Student
Council.
For
her part, Ms. Marcos simply said its very typical for Ilocanos as welcoming and
hospitable to anyone who visits.
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