Cavite governor Jonvic Remulla endorses Bongbong-Sara tandem
Cavite (CNN Philippines, February 12) — Cavite governor Jonvic Remulla and his clan are now officially supporting Bongbong Marcos for president and Sara Duterte for vice president in the May elections.
The Remulla brothers - Jonvic, Cavite 7th District Representative Boying, and former Cavite 2nd District Rep. Gilbert - even joined Marcos in his caravan in the province today.
Donned in red, the Marcoses' traditional political campaign color, the Remullas endured the heat with Marcos all day long from Tanza, General Trias City, up to Imus.
"Categorically, we're together. I'm campaigning for him. We'll make all efforts to make him win," Remulla told journalists in General Trias City.
He also promised to foot the bill for all of Bongbong's campaign sorties in Cavite, as well as the support of all mayors aligned with Cavite's current ruling family.
'Overwhelming win'
But the biggest of all promises the governor made is to make Marcos win by 800,000 votes in Cavite - the second most vote-rich province with 2.15 million registered voters.
Marcos defeated rival Vice President Leni Robredo in Cavite by 150,000 votes in the 2016 polls. He carried all towns and cities, except Alfonso and Carmona.
When asked how he plans to fulfill his promise, Remulla pointed to their internal surveys where Marcos' latest rating is at 64%.
"The next one is Senator Ping (Lacson) and Vice President Leni (Robredo) and his lead is really overwhelming. It is by almost 50%," he said. "Marcos country talaga ito eh (Cavite is really a Marcos country)." he added.
Why Marcos?
The Marcoses and Remullas go way back.
Jonvic's father, the late Cavite governor Johnny Remulla, was a close ally of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.
The governor said the Remullas have always supported the Marcoses whenever they seek national posts.
"Every time na tumatakbo ang Marcos sa buong Pilipinas, (Senator) Imee, BBM, laging overwhelming sila rito. 2016 tumakbo siyang (Bongbong Marcos) vice president, panalo siya rito," Remulla said.
[Translation: Every time a Marcos is running for a national post, Senator Imee, BBM, they always win overwhelmingly here. When he ran for vice president in 2016, he won here.]
No bad blood with Lacson?
Despite his support for Marcos' presidential bid, the Cavite governor said he and his province mate Lacson are still "very good friends."
Remulla is a member of the National Unity Party (NUP), which is allied with Lacson's Partido Reforma. He said NUP leaders gave them the freedom to choose whoever they want to support in the May polls.
"The senator and I had a good talk and I explained things to him," he said. "Our relationship is great. In fact, he texted last night. He was thanking me for all the help, I was thanking him for all the friendship and service to my father. There's no acrimony between the senator and I."
Cavite is known as Lacson's bailiwick. He grew up in Imus City. He also carried the province - and the only one in the country - during his first presidential run in 2004.
