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| Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte arrives at the Provincial Capitol (Lei Adriano) |
By Leilanie G. Adriano
Staff reporter
Laoag City—The “Solid North” is expected to go to Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos’ vice presidential bid; but Ilocanos, especially in Ilocos Norte is mixing and matching him with different “presidentiables”.
As Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte visited the province recently, Ilocanos here are saying they could match him with Mr. Marcos.
“We are supporting Senator Bongbong and Mayor Duterte because of what they spouse—disiplina at pagkakaisa para sa isang progresibong bansa. If we have discipline, we have peace and order. Wala tayong drugs, walangcorruption,” said Retired Admiral Reuben Lista, convenor of the Alyansang Duterte-Bongbong or ALDuB for short.
“Matagal ng wala tayong unity as a nation. Yun ang sinisigay ni Senator Bongbong, magkaisa tayo and with discipline which Mayor Duterte has shown in his stewardship in Davao, there is no way except to move forward as a nation,” he added citing lessons from the past and blaming one another is not helping the country but instead “we should plan ahead as a united country,” he added.
Composed of national alliance from groups of Overseas Filipino Workers, Seafarers and some retired generals, professionals, Association of Barangay Council and the business sector, ALDuB supporters patiently waited for almost four hours at the Laoag International Airport on February 19. Mr. Duterte was expected to touch down on a private plane at 1 pm but arrived 2:45 pm instead due to traffic.
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| Mobbed by Ilocanos inside the Capitol (Lei Adriano). |
Wearing a white statement shirt with Duterte-Bongbong in large bold letters with an embossed golden sun symbol in the middle, hundreds of supporters from various parts of the province gathered at the airport to welcome him.
Local leader volunteers for ALDuB said they invited Mr. Duterte to visit Ilocos Norte saying “there is no political rally involved.”
“He is not coming here for a political rally. He is coming here to meet volunteers of ALDuB and friends of Duterte who is supporting him. It’s purely private and when the governor learned about it, she called him if he could speak on federalism with the League of Barangay Captains which was held at the Provincial Capitol on February 19.
Like Marilyn Aldos, 57, who travelled from her hometown Bangui to Laoag City, she said she likes Duterte's strong way of leadership “kamay na bakal” to instill discipline among people.
“It’s what our country needs today. Gusto ko ang kanyang pamamalakad sa gobierno gaya ng pagdisiplina niya sa mga tao saDavao. Siya ay isang matapang na lider at may paninindigan," she said.
As supporters welcomed Mr. Duterte’s party at the airport, the group, including motorcycle riders joined a motorcade going to the Capitol where he was met by Ilocos Norte Governor Maria Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos and Ilocos Norte Vice Governor Eugenio Angelo M. Barba.
Several Ilocos Norte mayors also met with Mr. Duterte at the Capitol after which they proceeded in Batac City to visit the Marcos mausoleum and met with students at the Mariano Marcos State University through the invitation of the MMSU Student Council.
For her part, Ms. Marcos simply said its very typical for Ilocanos as welcoming and hospitable to anyone who visits.