(UPDATE) The Nacionalista Party, headed by former Senate President Manny Villar, on Tuesday endorsed the presidential candidacy of Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos and his running mate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio in the May 9 elections.
Villar said Marcos and Duterte-Carpio's message of unity "is crucial in binding our country together and inspiring our people as we rebuild not only from the pandemic but also from the political chasm that divides us."
"They both have the platforms of government, qualifications, and track record to lead our country towards unity and prosperity," his statement also read.
The Nacionalist Party, which carried Villar's presidential candidacy in 2010, is the oldest political party in the country, and was the dominant force during the administrations of former Presidents Manuel Quezon, Sergio Osmeña, Ramon Magsaysay, and Carlos P. Garcia.
It was also the party of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, Bongbong's father, from 1965 to 1972, during his first two terms as president.
Marcos thanked Villar and the Nacionalista Party for giving their support to his and Duterte-Carpio's candidacy.
"Of course, we're very happy everytime meron tayong nakukuhang suporta, lalong-lalo na sa pinanggalingan naming partido na Nacionalista Party. Mabuti yan at lahat ng kaibigan at lahat ng kaalyado ay ngayon mukhang nagsama-sama na. Maliwanag na ang takbo sa kampanya at sa halalan," Marcos said in an ambush interview.
Villar's son, former Public Works Sec. Mark Villar, is running under the Marcos and Duterte-Carpio's UniTeam slate.
Apart from the Nacionalista Party, the PDP-Laban faction supported by President Rodrigo Duterte and the National Unity Party also gave their support to the Marcos-Duterte tandem.
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