Alyansa confident of 12-0 vote in NCR
MANILA, Philippines — Senatorial bets of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., are confident that they would get overwhelming support from vote-rich Metro Manila in the May midterm polls.
At the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas’ press conference on Tuesday, eight administration candidates –former Senate President Vicente Sotto III, former Sen. Panfilo Lacson, ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo, former Sen. Manny Pacquiao, House Deputy Speaker Camille Villar, former Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos, Sen. Francis Tolentino, and Makati City Mayor Abby Binay –explained why they expect a sweeping victory for the team in the capital region.
Sotto said the Alyansa candidates are well-known in Metro Manila for their achievements, including his own efforts to convert Metro municipalities into cities when he first became a senator.
“Ako confident ako kasi malakas yung team namin, kilala kami sa Metro Manila at alam ang nagawa namin. For example, when I became senator in 1992, there were only 4 cities here — Pasay, Manila, QC, and Caloocan. I converted 10 municipalities into cities. Lahat ng naging city thereafter ako ang nag sponsor sa Senado para maging city sila, hindi ako naniningil, nagpapaalala lang ho ako,” said Sotto.
(I am confident because our team is strong and we are known in Metro Manila as well as things that we’ve done. For example, when I became a senator in 1992, there were only four cities here — Pasay, Manila, QC, and Caloocan. I converted 10 municipalities into cities. All that became cities thereafter, I sponsored in the Senate so it became a city. I am not asking for a payment, I am just reminding them.)
Lacson, for his part, said President Marcos’ “unqualified support” for their team was a big help in wooing voters.
“At kami nagpapasalamat din ang full support ni PBBM nandito. Every time may out of town nandiyan siya kasama Alyansa at malaki ang tulong na maibibigay pag pangulo mismo nagbibigay ng unqualified support,” said Lacson.
Tulfo, meanwhile, said while they are confident they would sweep the senatorial elections, they did not want to be complacent.
“Otherwise, kung sobrang kompiyansa ang alyansa ay wala ho sanang rally sa Metro Manila, di na kami mag ra-rally sa Ilocos o Iloilo o lalo na sa Mindanao. Ibig sabihin po, we are still courting the votes of voters,” said Tulfo.
(Otherwise, if we are complacent, we wouldn’t conduct a rally here in Metro Mania, Ilocos, Iloilo or even in Mindanao. That means we are still courting the votes of voters.)
Both Pacquiao and Abalos said President Marcos’ support for the alliance boosted their confidence they would also get the full support of Metro Manila.
“Kompiyansa kami sa grupo ng alyansa na ma-12-0 namin sa Metro Manila dahil unang una ay suportado kami ng pangulo at ang programa ng Alyansa ay para talaga sa mga mahihirap,” said Pacquiao.
(We are confident that Alyansa will achieve a 12-0 vote in Metro Manila because first of all, we are supported by the president and the programs of the Alyansa are for the poor.)
Abalos said the President himself was able to get sweeping votes from all 17 cities and municipality in Metro Manila during the 2022 presidential election and that’s why they are confident that they would be able to secure the region’s support.
“Of course, this is the president’s team — the Alyansa,” said Abalos.
Home to 13.48 million residents, Metro Manila has 7.32 million registered voters, making it a critical stronghold in the 2025 elections.
The capital region played a crucial role in the 2022 national and local polls, where 5.96 million people cast their ballots.
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