Bam Aquino tells his base to ‘bridge’ the divide between Filipinos

Senatorial candidate and former Senator Bam Aquino tells supporters to “bridge the division” among Filipinos in his speech at a campaign rally in Lucena City, Quezon province on Thursday, March 20, 2025. (Photo by Jason Sigales/INQUIRER.net)

LUCENA CITY, Philippines — Senatorial candidate and former Senator Bam Aquino has urged his base to “be the bridge” amid “division” among Filipinos.

“I know that at this time, our country is going through a lot. It seems as though our nation is being divided,” Aquino said in Filipino at his campaign rally in Lucena City, Quezon Province, on Thursday.

“My request, especially to the youth here, is to be the bridge to our fellow countrymen. Let us be the one[s] to bridge the divide among our countrymen despite our differences in how we feel [and] how we view various things,” he added.

Aquino did not specify what was “dividing” the country.

However, the comment came amid political tension in the wake of the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte on the order of the International Criminal Court

READ: Spike in hate content seen after Duterte arrest

“We all want a country that’s more fair, that has justice, and is more just. We want a country where parents can provide for the needs of their famil[ies]. That’s what we all want,” he said.

“Let us remind people: We have more in common; we have more to do for our country. We have one flag; we are all Filipinos,” the senator said, bringing out volunteers waving Philippine flags to the song “Hawak Kamay.”