Presidential candidate Bongbong Marcos preached "unity" during a campaign rally late Monday in the country's most vote-rich province of Cebu, where the ruling political clan is endorsing him.
The only son and namesake of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos is running on a platform of "unity" and economic revival while refusing to engage his critics on his family's history of corruption and human rights abuses.
Cebu province has 3.25 million voters, based on Comelec data. Marcos has also secured endorsements from the leaders of the second and third most vote-rich, Cavite and Pangasinan.
Flanked by running mate Sara Duterte and Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia, Marcos said the warm reception from Cebuanos drove him to tears.
"Huwag tayong magtaka na tinatanggap ang mensahe ng pagkakaisa ng sambayanang Pilipino. Yang pagmamahal, yang pagkakaisa, yang pagiging matulungin. Yan po ay nasa puso, nasa ugali, nasa kultura ng mga Pilipino," he said.
"Tayong mga Pilipino, hindi naman tayo palaaway. Hindi tayo naghahanap ng gulo. Tingnan nyo mga katabi nyo, walang nakasimangot diyan, puro nakangiti," he said.
Marcos maintained his lead in the March 17 to 21 Pulse Asia survey with 56% voter preference, while rival Leni Robredo surged to 24%, up by 9 percentage points from her February 2022 figure. Marcos' number went down by 4 points.
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