Loyalists welcome Mayor Abalos' support for Sen. Bongbong

LOYALISTS and supporters of Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" R. Marcos Jr. have welcomed the backing of Mandaluyong City Mayor Benhur Abalos to the vice presidential bid of the senator in the May 2016 elections.

This developed as Marcos expressed sincere gratitude to his supporters who gathered at the main office of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) in Intramuros, Manila on Tuesday as he filed his certificate of candidacy (COC).

Abalos, together with Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile and former President and current Manila City Mayor Joseph "Erap" Estrada had led supporters in endorsing Marcos during his formal proclamation of candidacy last October 10.

"He is the most qualified and experienced candidate for the position so far. Our country needs a person of his caliber in the service," Abalos said.

Abalos said Marcos has always stood on factual ground and strongly pushed his position on sensitive national issues.

"His credence, judgment and opinions lay before us an interesting and worthy matrix on assessing how we are as a nation and how we can make our economy more robust and our nation safer in the years ahead. He has a clear vision and unwavering commitment with and for the Filipino people on top of his manifest resolve to change our society in very significant ways," Abalos said.

After filing his COC, Marcos said he may live his entire life serving the people.

"Siguro hanggang sa kamatayan, iyan na ang magiging layunin ko sa buhay: Ang makatulong sa ating mga kababayan," he said in an interview over DzMM.

Marcos is an incumbent senator who was elected in 2010, placing 7th overall. He currently chairs the Senate Committee on Local Government and the Committee on Public Works.

He had also served as vice governor, governor and congressman of Ilocos Norte.