Davao del Norte: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Saturday urged voters in Davao del Norte to support all 12 senatorial candidates of the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas coalition, emphasizing their 'very impressive' track records.

According to Philippines News Agency, Marcos highlighted the candidates' notable performance in various government positions during a campaign rally in Carmen, Davao del Norte. He remarked, "The opponent is formidable because if we look at them one by one, their records are very impressive, their performance in the various government positions they held have been very good." He further noted the collective strength and resilience of the candidates when united.

The administration's senatorial slate includes Erwin Tulfo and Camille Villar from the House of Representatives, reelectionists Senators Francis Tolentino, Lito Lapid, Bong Revilla, Pia Cayetano, and Imee Marcos. Makati City Mayor Abby Binay, former senators Manny Pacquiao, Panfilo Lacson, and Vicente Sotto III, who also served as Senate President, along with former Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr., complete the list.

Marcos vouched for the candidates' competence, asserting they are well-prepared to occupy Senate seats based on their previous government roles. "These people who are facing you, they are very used to it. When they are installed in the position they are seeking, they will not be clueless about what they will do," he stated.

The President assured that Alyansa's candidates are not involved in corruption and are motivated by a genuine desire to serve the Filipino people, rather than personal interests. He expressed pride in endorsing candidates unassociated with extrajudicial killings and opposed to China's actions in the West Philippine Sea.

Marcos acknowledged that some candidates, including Senators Marcos, Cayetano, Lacson, and Villar, missed the Davao del Norte rally, a known stronghold of former President Rodrigo R. Duterte and Vice President Sara Z. Duterte. Nonetheless, he took a veiled jab at his predecessor over comments about creating Senate vacancies through violence, suggesting, "We just heard the other day, maybe they are hopeless so they will just kill 15 senators."

Marcos concluded by recognizing the challenging nature of the campaign due to the formidable opposition, emphasizing the superior qualifications and intentions of Alyansa's candidates.