Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) chairman Nur Misuari is endorsing the presidential candidacy of pre-election surveys frontrunner former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and his running mate, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.
The 83-year-old Misuari announced the endorsement during a gathering with MNLF members and guests in Saudi Arabia while expressing support as well for Robin Padilla.
In response to Misuari’s support, Marcos’ camp welcomed the former’s endorsement.
“It is with profound gratitude that we acknowledge the esteemed Moro National Liberation Front Chairman Nur Misuari’s endorsement of presidential frontrunner Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr.,” lawyer Vic Rodriguez, Marcos’ spokesman, said.
Rodriguez said Misuari’sgesture showed the BBM-Sara UniTeam’s call for national unity “has already taken roots in the hearts, minds, and souls of the vast Filipino populace, as also shown by the results of all the reputable national surveys showing that Marcos Jr. enjoys a historic high in presidential preferential rating.”
Marcos Jr. remained on top among presidential candidates with 56 percent rating, according to the latest Pulse Asia preferential survey conducted April 16 to 21, 2022.
Rodriguez said Misuari had played an important role and had been an instrumental figure in the movement for lasting peace in Mindanao.
“Peace and progress in Mindanao shall be top priority since that southern sector has always been a major part ofBBM’s unifying vision.
Together as a people of one race and as one nation, we shall rise to meet our common destiny,” Rodriguez said.
In related developments, political analyst Edmund Tayao said only a ‘black swan’ could prevent the impending victory of Marcos.
Black swan is a metaphor based on an ancient saying that presumed black swans “did not exist.”
Tayao stressed that based on the result of the surveys, Marcos and Duterte-Carpio were the sure winners in the presidential and vice-presidential elections.
“I was asked several times on what could be the reason [to change the outcome of elections], the answer there is a ‘black swan.’ I mean something that is unexpected. I can just hope and pray that if there will be a black swan, it will not be as disturbing,” Tayao said.
Just like other political experts, Tayao believes Marcos will win by a huge margin against his closest rival, Robredo.
“If our reference, and the only reference we have is the survey, it seems that the vice president will really have to settle in second place,” the political analyst noted.
Last Monday, Marcos scored 56 percent voter preference in the last Pulse Asia survey conducted with 2,400 respondents in April 16- 21.
Marcos also obtained 56 percent voter preference in the March survey of Pulse Asia and stayed the huge leader in the presidential derby with 33 percentage lead against Robredo who only scored 23 percent, a drop of one percent compared to her 24 percent voter preference last March.