MANILA, Philippines – Dominant political families in the vote-rich province of Cavite expressed their full support for the vice presidential bid of Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. 

Cavite governor Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla and Vice Governor Ramon “Jolo” Revilla III are backing the candidacy of Marcos.

The governor’s brother, former Cavite representative Crispin “Boying” Remulla,  told Rappler the Remullas’ choice for vice president on Saturday, February 27. Jonvic is currently abroad.

“Bongbong is our choice for VP. His father did a lot for Cavite. That’s an indisputable fact,” said Boying, who is running for Cavite governor in place of his brother who withdrew from the race.

Revilla, for his part, also said that their whole family is supporting Marcos, who had helped his father, detained senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr, campaign in Ilocos.

“Ito yung ginagawa namin pambawi sa kanya. Tinutulungan namin siya sa probinsya ng Cavite,”  Revilla said in an interview with Rappler during a sortie in Dasmariñas, Cavite.

(This is what we are doing in return for what he has done for us.  We are campaigning for him here in the province of Cavite.)

Jonvic is a member of the Nacionalista Party (NP), Marcos’ party. The Remulla’s local party, Partido Magdalo, adopted President Jejomar Binay as their member for the 2016 polls. The Revillas belong to Lakas-CMD of former president now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

The Marcoses and the Remullas go way back. The clan patriarch, the late Cavite governor Juanito Remulla Sr, was a very close ally of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos. The two were also fraternity brothers at Upsilon Sigma Phi.

Bong Revilla and Marcos are known to be good friends. Three years ago, it was rumored that the two “Bongs” would team up for the 2016 national elections – an idea that they were both open to then.

Boying Remulla is among Marcos’ close allies who favor a Bin-Bong (Binay-Marcos) tandem. Ilocos Sur Governor Luis Chavit Singson had earlier expressed the same sentiment.

A source close to Binay and Marcos told Rappler that UNA’s vice presidential bet, Senator  Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan II was actually rooting for Marcos to be Binay’s running mate. Honasan joined the race out of “love” for the party, the source said.

Up to the last minute, the source said Honasan was telling Bongbong, “You know I’m just standing in for you until you decide [to be Binay’s running mate].”

Marcos shared the lead with Senator Francis Escudero in the latest pre-election survey while Honasan is at fifth place. – Rappler.com