BBM-SARA SUPPORTERS. Young Muslim voters attend the campaign sortie of presidential candidate Bongbong Marcos and vice presidential aspirant Sara Duterte in Carmen, North Cotabato on Monday (March 28, 2022). Florabel Sinempalan, 21, said she will vote for the BBM-Sara tandem because they both deserve to win. (Photo from HNP Facebook page)
CARMEN, North Cotabato – For this group of Muslim youth, presidential candidate Bongbong Marcos and vice presidential aspirant Sara Duterte have already won the race.
One of them is Florabel Sinempalan, 21, who was with her friends attending the jam-packed rally in front of the municipal hall here on Monday morning.
Sinempalan said she will vote for the BBM-Sara tandem because they both deserve to win.
“Alam ko po na si Marcos ay deserving siyang maging pangulo ng Pilipinas (I know Marcos deserves to be the president of the Philippines). I know Sara Duterte will help President Marcos in engaging more Filipinos with necessary programs,” Sinempalan said as she held a placard with a message “BBM - Sara Duterte: Uwian na, May Nanalo na (Let’s go home, there are winners already)!”
Sinempalan, a nursing student, said she agrees with the UniTeam’s advocacy for strengthening the quality of education and achieving a peaceful living for every Filipino, as stressed by Duterte in her speech.
She also believes that Marcos’ promise to provide better livelihood opportunities would help her parents.
“Alam ko po naga-focus siya sa agriculture for the farmers since ang parents ko po are farmers (I know his focus is agriculture for the farmers since my parents are farmers),” she said.
Sinempalan also said she hopes the tandem would move to end discrimination against Muslims.
“As a Muslim, I know that the UniTeam will help the Muslim Filipinos and other religions in building respect. Most of the Muslims are being discriminated against. Thru the help of Bongbong and Sara Duterte, I know that it will stop, and Muslims will be seen equally with others,” she said.
Duterte and Marcos on Monday campaigned in the provinces of North Cotabato, Maguindanao, and Sultan Kudarat.
They were welcomed by North Cotabato Vice Governor Emmylou Mendoza in Carmen town; Maguindanao Governor Bai Mariam Mangudadatu in Buluan town; and Sultan Kudarat Governor Suharto Mangudadatu in Isulan town.
They were joined by senatorial bets Robin Padilla, Win Gatchalian, Gibo Teodoro, Jinggoy Estrada, Migz Zubiri, and Mylah Roque, Harry Roque’s wife. (PR)
