Final push: Marcos, Cebu Gov. Garcia endorse Abalos ahead of election
One Last Push: Benhur Abalos gets endorsement from President Ferdindand Marcos Jr. and Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia.
CEBU CITY — In a final push before the national elections, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia threw their full support behind senatorial candidate Benhur Abalos Jr., urging Cebuanos to deliver a united vote for the Alyansa slate.
Garcia made a direct appeal to Cebuanos to deliver a commanding bloc vote in support of the Alyansa ticket. “Ang solid Cebu vote ay katumbas ng 3.4 million votes, atin ‘yang ipakita kung ano’ng maibigay sa pagkakaisa,” she said.
Supporters hold posters as they listen to Benhur Abalos at a Cebu rally
She added: “Sinisigurado ko bago ako aalis, aking pinapakiusapan, ating suportahan ang ‘Alyansa’ senatorial candidates. Suportahan natin? Suportahan natin. Totohanin. Papanalunin natin.”
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. echoed the call, naming Abalos as a trusted ally with firsthand experience in local governance.
Supporters in Cebu raise posters as they listen to Benhur Abalos during the Cebu rally
“Noong ako ay bagong upo, inisip ko sino ilalagay natin ng DILG. Sabi ko maghanap tayo ng mga kilala natin ang nakakaunawa sa mga isyu ng local government. At ang naiisip ko kaagad, noong panahon ‘yun, Mayor Benhur Abalos,” he said.
Marcos said the Alyansa slate was carefully chosen, made up of public servants with the competence to deliver results in the Senate.
“Alam po natin na sila ang mga pinakamagagaling na tumatakbo para sa Senado sa taong ito kung kaya’t sila po ang aming pinili,” the President said.
Earlier in the campaign, Abalos also gained the endorsements of former Vice President Leni Robredo and television icon Vice Ganda.
Abalos, a former DILG secretary and longtime mayor of Mandaluyong, thanked both leaders for their endorsement, vowing to push for legislation that directly responds to the everyday struggles of Filipino families. At the top of his agenda is the removal of value-added tax on electricity and fuel used for power generation to reduce utility costs for millions of households and allow small businesses to thrive.
He also pledged to amend the Rice Tariffication Law to restore the role of the National Food Authority not only to directly buy palay from farmers but sell them in the market, even without emergencies.
Equally urgent, he said, is the need to safeguard municipal fishing grounds from commercial encroachment, ensuring that coastal communities can continue to earn a living and contribute to the country’s food security.
Abalos also vowed to prioritize housing—both for low-income urban families and for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) returning home.
