Admin senatorial candidates defend Marcos attacks vs other bets
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. makes pitch for administration’s Senate slate during the proclamation rally of Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas in Ilocos Norte on Feb. 11, 2025. SCREENGRAB FROM RTVM.
MANILA, Philippines — Senatorial candidates from the administration’s Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas have defended President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s attacks against the bets of other political parties, saying he is entitled to his opinion.
At a press conference ahead of their proclamation rally in Iloilo City on Thursday, Alyansa’s candidates were asked to comment on Marcos’ remarks during their proclamation rally in Ilocos Norte last Tuesday.
READ: Marcos on admin slate: They’re not tainted by tokhang, Pogo, pro-China
In his speech, Marcos said no one in the administration’s slate is tainted by the bloody drug war, corruption during the Covid-19 pandemic, and links to the Philippine offshore gaming operators and China.
“The President is not a candidate. What we’re saying is that we are the ones running, not him. He was merely stating facts, and that is just his perspective. It has nothing to do with what our campaign manager has told us about avoiding mudslinging,” former Senate President and candidate Vicente “Tito” Sotto said in Filipino.
ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo echoed Sotto’s sentiments, saying, “Although he is, so to speak, our President, he is not a candidate, so he has his own ideas and opinions.”
READ: Senate bets in admin’s Alyansa vow no negative campaigning
Tulfo then reiterated that their team would veer away from negative campaigning.
“We will not attack the other side; we will simply present our accomplishments,” he said in Filipino.
“It will be more on a performance basis—that’s what we agreed on. We will not attack the other side because we don’t believe in negative publicity. But as for the President, he is the President, and we cannot dictate what he says,” he explained.
Former Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos urged voters to consider the “full context” of Marcos’ statements.
“Let’s look at it in full context. If I recall correctly, the President started by praising each candidate’s abilities. There are twelve of us, and the theme is unity,” he said.
“When he said that none of us here would… that we wouldn’t side with China, for me, there’s nothing wrong with saying that. It’s not negative if you look at it—after all, we all stand for Philippine sovereignty,” he added.
Alyansa is also fielding Senators Pia Cayetano, Imee Marcos, Lito Lapid, Bong Revilla, and Francis Tolentino; former senators Panfilo Lacson and Manny Pacquiao; Deputy Speaker Camille Villar; and Makati City Mayor Abby Binay.
