LOPEZ, LAUREL SCIONS ENDORSE BONGBONG MARCOS' VP BID

At the risk of his father losing his chairmanship of a government agency, the son of former Manila Mayor Mel Lopez endorsed the vice presidential bid of Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" R. Marcos, Jr.

Lawyer Alex Lopez said he has chosen to endorse Marcos because of his track record and credibility even if it could possibly lead to the loss of his father's post as chairman of the Philippine National Oil Company.

This developed as Lopez also bared that even the Laurels of Batangas, who were staunch critics of the Marcoses before the Edsa Revolution in 1986, were also supportive the senator's VP bid.

Lopez made the endorsement during the general assembly of the SGS Multi-Purpose Cooperative at the Lyceum of the Philippines University in Calamba, Laguna recently. He said he had asked the permission of his father if he could speak to endorse the candidacy of Marcos.

President Benigno Aquino III had appointed the elder Lopez as Chairman of the PNOC.

"My father told me: 'That's okay, even if we lose our position. We're just fighting for what is right.'" said Atty. Lopez.

"So at the risk of my father losing his post at the biggest government corporation now---he's the chairman--- I'm here to endorse Bongbong," he added.

Atty. Lopez noted that his father led the fight in Manila against the senator's father, the late President Ferdinand Marcos. In fact, he said this is the reason why Mel Lopez was appointed as Manila Mayor after the ouster of Marcos.

Likewise, he claimed that in the province of Batangas many members of the influential Laurel clan, who were among the leaders of the opposition against Pres. Marcos, are now supporting the vice presidential bid of Senator Marcos.

Sarah, the wife of Atty. Lopez, is a member of the Laurel clan who owns and runs the Lyceum. She is the current vice-president and treasurer of LPU Laguna.

"It's time move on," said Atty. Lopez.

Sen. Marcos has been calling for national unity, saying we need to abandon the divisive politics adopted by previous administrations for the country to be able to move forward and achieve a brighter future for all Filipinos.