Bongbong Marcos Will Make the Philippines Great Again

TheIndonesia.id - On the second Monday of May this year, the Philippines will vote for a new President and Vice President to lead the archipelago. There are six pairs of candidates, including Bongbong Marcos and Sara Duterte as Presidential and Vice-Presidential Candidates supported by PFP and Lakas.

Bongbong Marcos is the son of former President Ferdinand Marcos who was overthrown in the 1986 People's Revolution, while Sara Duterte is the daughter of the outgoing President, Rodrigo Duterte. Sara is currently the Mayor of Davao, a position that was held by her father. Several surveys have found that the pair is most likely to win the election, which is held every six years.

BBM and Sara Duterte are backed by an alliance that calls UniTeam. UniTeam is an electoral alliance formed for the 2022 Philippine general election, composed of supporters of the candidacies of Bongbong Marcos and Sara Duterte.

As a country with large immigrant workers spreading all over the world, UniTeam is also working in Indonesia, trying to win over Filipino voters who live and work in Indonesia. In Indonesia, one of the volunteers for UniTeam is Mario Pacursa Marcos, President Director of PT Philippines Antiviral Indonesia who is recently collaborating with Gadjah Mada University (UGM) to develop antiviral medication for COVID-19.

Last Wednesday, April 13, in Jakarta, TheIndonesia interviewed Mario Marcos about his activities to support Bongbong Marcos in the Philippine Presidential Election. Here is the interview:

You are here (in Jakarta) for Bong Bong Marcos and Sara Duterte's campaign. Why is it important for BBM and Sara Duterte to campaign here?

Of course, it is important. This is a very important election for everyone and the international communities because a lot of OFW (overseas Filipino workers--ed) are working abroad longing for good governance. They want full support from the government to take care of them and their families in the Philippines. They work abroad, but their families are in the Philippines. They want a secure future for their children. This is an important event because we only give our vote every six-year for a presidential election. This is the right time, we will commit, dedicate ourselves to vote the best for us, to choose the best President for the Philippines. This is the team that we hope can give a better future. Can make the country be the best country again.

Why do you think BBM and SD are the best for the Philippines?

They focus on the immediate need of the people. They need to do something, the immediate project, and job for the country because we suffer from the pandemic, a worldwide pandemic. Especially the Philippines is having a very hard situation. There’s always a typhoon every year. The poor people suffer a lot. BBM and Sara have a good platform for this. They want to support immediately the people in need by creating jobs and encouraging foreign investors. They will boost the economy by creating jobs and opportunities for the people.

If big investors will come in, of course, it will create growth. GDP growth will be strengthened and then of course will sustain the need of the people.

Do BBM and Sara have a track record on this?

Of course, they have. BBM has experience as a good civil servant. He is really tough. He is experienced. He is suited for the presidential position. He had a good performance as governor and senator. Being a former greatest presidents’ son, he has the gut to lead the country.
While Mayor Sara, her father is the current president. She has the experience, she has the power to lead also. As a woman, she is a good model to lead the country.

You think BBM and Sara will bring more foreign investments. What is the foreign policy of BBM toward China and the United States?

As I can see, he is a very good leader. I think he knows what is best in foreign policy. He has the experience. We know that he will be a good leader for the country. For the investment, he wants to have more investors come into the country.

Including from China?

Of course. A lot of Chinese investors are already in the country ever since. This is a very important thing. We need international support. We need international assistance. We need investors. We cannot be dependent solely on the budget we have to develop the country especially when we have only one term. The combination of BBM and Sara, I can say is the perfect combination for this time, for investors and to develop the country. Their platform is to do more international trade, do more infrastructure projects, digital development, Internet towers, Internet of Things, and improve our e-learning education. They have that commitment.

If BBM is elected, what are the future of Indonesia and the Philippines' relationship?

He always has a good relationship with other countries. The Philippines will become stronger. The Philippines will be great again. The people of the Philippines are hungry to have one Marcos to lead again. People can see in the past his father was considered one of the great presidents. During his tenure, we are number two in Asia. Japan and then the Philippines.

In 1970, the Philippines was the greatest country in Southeast Asia. Do you think BBM will bring the Philippines to get back to that track again?

This time if BBM wins, they have the best vision for the Philippines. Very possible. That’s the hope of the Philippines people.

How’s their chance to win now? Maybe you can tell us the latest polling?

It’s overwhelming. The average is 93 percent for Bong Bong. (Not clear what is this number for, but some international media reported that Bong Bong Marcos and Sara Duterte lead the surveys). I’m encouraging consent citizens to go for the Uniteam, for BBM and Sara.

When we talk about Marcos, in the 1980s there was a movement against Marcos. It’s dividing the country. If Bongbong wins, what will Bongbong do to unite the country?

That’s the good thing about BBM. That’s why he said (in Tagalog), “Sama-sama tayong babangon muli”. It means, “together, we shall rise again.” There will be no division. I can see his vision. He will do his best to be united as one, to move forward for the welfare of the Filipino people. Every time he saw the criticism, against the Marcos family, especially against BBM himself, I never heard any bad words coming from his mouth. He always shows respect. With that character, he will the best leader for the country. He has the value of a leader. He respects others, he has a good attitude. I can see he is a very-very tough leader. The Philippines needs a tough leader with an iron heart but a generous gesture. Of course, Sara also (has that quality). Their combination is really perfect. I can say they are the new normal president.

Duterte has some legacies. He did some good jobs. Do BBM and Sara keep that legacy or agenda inherited from Duterte?

Of course, I think so. The good projects that have been started by the current administration, of course, BBM and Sara are committed to continuing the good projects by our greatest president Rodrigo Duterte.

What about the war on Drugs?

They will continue this because we all know the drugs problem is big in our country.

Does BBM get support from Duterte?

I think so. Because they are together now. The president will support his daughter. The supporter of the President will support the BBM and Sara Duterte. Hopefully, the majority of Filipino will support them. We have seen the challenging times right now. We believe that if we team up, we can solve immediately the problem of the Philippines. The poverty problem of the Philippines will be less because of their program on education, infrastructures, health program, and of course, transparency in government and corruption issues. If they focus on these, the country will be great again.

The last question. Indonesia has a large Muslim population. One of their main concerns in the Philippines is the Muslim population in the south of the Philippines? During the Duterte administration, they have a good relationship.

Yes, if you want your country to be progressive, we will need to have a good relationship between Christians and Muslims. There will be no war. Peace is the secret to making this country successful. I think they will do more to strengthen this relationship, including with neighbors like Indonesia.