The 2022 presidential campaign of Bongbong Marcos began on October 6, 2021, when he filed his candidacy for the 2022 Philippine presidential elections under the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas. Bongbong Marcos, a former senator from 2010 to 2016, is the son of former president Ferdinand Marcos.
Despite losing in the 2016 Philippine vice presidential election and his subsequent electoral protest, Marcos expressed his interest in running again for a national position in 2022. After being nominated by several parties, Marcos officially announced his candidacy on October 5, 2021, and filed his candidacy a day later. Marcos selected Duterte's daughter and incumbent mayor of Davao City since 2016, Sara Duterte, as his vice presidential running mate. An electoral alliance for their campaign, called the UniTeam alliance, was formed on November 29, 2021. Their campaign was officially launched on February 8, 2022 at the Philippine Arena.
Marcos ran on a platform that promised broad continuity of incumbent president Rodrigo Duterte's policies, such as infrastructure development and his foreign policy, alongside some of Duterte's controversial programs. His campaign's messaging was also mainly focused on uniting the country. His candidacy faced staunch opposition from various groups, particularly due to his father's regime, marked by widespread corruption and human rights abuses. There were also several petitions against his bid, many of which are based on his 1995 conviction for failing to file tax returns. The petitions were denied by the Commission on Elections and the Supreme Court.
Marcos won the election in a landslide victory, garnering 58.77% of the vote with a margin of 30.83% over the second placer, Leni Robredo. Marcos became the first majority president since the establishment of the Fifth Republic in 1986, winning the largest majority since 1981 (although the opposition boycotted that election), and since 1969 for a competitive election. He is also the second president from Ilocos Norte after his father. Meanwhile, his running mate, Duterte, also became the first majority vice president of the Fifth Republic, winning the largest majority since 1969 and garnering the most votes for any office in a single-winner election in Philippine history. They are the first presidential ticket to win together since 2004.
Background 2016 vice presidential campaign and electoral protest
Marcos ran in the 2016 Philippine vice presidential election as the running mate of Miriam Defensor Santiago. A highly contested race, Marcos ultimately lost to then congresswoman Leni Robredo by 263,473 votes or by 0.64 percent, the narrowest margin since the 1965 vice presidential election. Marcos subsequently filed an electoral protest on June 29, 2016; this would be dismissed by the Presidential Electoral Tribunal on February 16, 2021.
Speculation and nominations By January 2020, Bongbong Marcos confirmed that he was running for a national position in 2022, although he did not specify a specific position. On September 21, 2021, the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP; ) nominated Marcos to run for president. During the national convention of the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL; ) in Binangonan, the party founded by his father, he was nominated as the party's candidate for president. Marcos, who remained a member of the Nacionalista Party, thanked KBL for the nomination, but said that he would announce his plans "when the time comes."
Campaign
Announcement On October 5, Marcos announced his presidential candidacy. Marcos then resigned from the Nacionalistas and was sworn in at the PFP chairman. Marcos ultimately filed his presidential candidacy under the PFP on October 6. According to his wife, Liza, Marcos was watching Ant-Man, a movie about an ex-convict thief turned Avenger superhero, when he told her "Okay, we're gonna do this... run for the presidency".
Running mate
Davao City mayor Sara Duterte was previously seen as President Duterte's successor, particularly after her role as a powerbroker in the midterms. On July 9, 2021, Duterte stated that she is open to running for president. However, despite being a frontrunner in early opinion polls, she did not file a candidacy for a national position; she instead ran for re-election in the Davao mayoral race. On November 9, Duterte withdrew her candidacy for re-election as Davao City mayor. Two days later, she resigned from her regional party and joined the Lakas–CMD, a national party. On November 13, she launched her run for the vice presidency under Lakas–CMD by substituting Lyle Uy, who withdrew from the race. Shortly after the announcement, Marcos' party adopted her as their candidate for vice president.
On November 16, Sara Duterte confirmed she had sought support from political parties for her and Marcos' bids in the 2022 elections. Hours later, Marcos said in a statement that, "Mayor Inday Sara Duterte and I have finished the process for the partnership that our supporters have been hoping for — BBM-Sara for 2022."
UniTeam
Formed on November 29, 2021, UniTeam is a loose electoral coalition supporting the candidacies of Bongbong Marcos and Sara Duterte in the 2022 presidential elections. The alliance is composed of four political parties, the Hugpong ng Pagbabago, Lakas-CMD, Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino, and with Partido Federal ng Pilipinas as its convenor.
Branding Marcos' messaging is centered on nationalism and uniting the country, emphasizing the need for unity to recover from the pandemic. His campaign slogan, "Sama-sama tayong babangon muli" (Together, we shall rise again), also reflects this message. The colors predominantly used by the campaign are red and green; red is associated with the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan, the party of former president Ferdinand Marcos, his father, while green is the campaign color of Duterte. Supporters of the tandem also use the V sign, which symbolizes political victory and is associated with the Marcos family. Aside from the clenched fist, that was the hand sign of her father, Sara Duterte also had her own hand symbol, her right hand on her chest. This is derived from her slogan "Mahalin Natin ang Pilipinas" (Let's love the Philippines). Songs frequently used during the campaign include "Umagang Kay Ganda" by Butch Monserrat and the New Society era song "Bagong Pagsilang" by Levi Celerio.
Rallies
On December 9, 2021, Marcos and his running mate, Sara Duterte, held a "grand caravan" across Metro Manila. Due to the influx of supporters, the motorcade caused heavy traffic along Commonwealth Avenue.
While most tickets had their proclamation rallies in the respective hometowns of the presidential candidate, the Marcos and Duterte tandem started their campaign at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan. The Marcos campaign explained that they chose the Philippine Arena so as to seat their thousands of supporters, of which 25,000 tickets were made available. On April 1, nine days before the start of overseas voting, the UniTeam tandem held a virtual miting de avance for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). Marcos held his miting de avance in Parañaque in which 1,000,000 supporters showed up in support.
Some of Marcos' rallies have been controversial. A scheduled campaign rally was supposed to be held in Antique on February 24 but was postponed after residents reportedly protested against the rally. During a UniTeam rally in Nueva Ecija, reports emerged of people receiving envelopes of cash after the event. The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) stated they will launch an investigation if there are formal evidence and complainants. The local government later clarified that it was distributing cash aid and that it was scheduled after the rally on the same venue, while the PFP denied claims that it was engaging in vote buying. On April 2, Marcos held rallies in Tarlac; his rally in Tarlac City attracted controversy after a statue of Benigno Aquino Jr., one of the leaders against his father's regime, was blocked by a tent.
+List of Marcos' campaign rallies Date Venue City/Municipality Province Estimatedattendance Feb 8Philippine ArenaBocaueBulacan25,000Feb 10WES Arena Valenzuela – 8,000 Feb 13Nueve de Febrero Mandaluyong – 30,000 Feb 14Amoranto Sports Complex Quezon City – Feb 16Paoay Sand Dunes Paoay Ilocos Norte 15,000 Feb 17 Quirino Stadium BantayIlocos Sur10,000 Narvacan Farmers Market Narvacan Feb 19Barangay 185 Caloocan – Feb 23Reclamation Area Bacolod Negros Occidental 80,000Feb 24Tamasak ArenaBarotac NuevoIloilo10,000 Barotac Nuevo Plaza Field15,000Guimbal Stadium Guimbal Postponed Binirayan Sports Complex San Jose de Buenavista Antique PostponedFeb 26 AlaminosPangasinan7,000Feb 28St. Vincent Ferrer Prayer Park Bayambang 30,000 Mar 3Balayan Government Center Balayan BatangasMar 4Sorsogon Provincial Capitol Sorsogon City Sorsogon Mar 5Social Center Masbate City Masbate Mar 8Santa ClaraSanta MariaBulacan Meycauayan College Gym Meycauayan 26,000 Guiguinto Municipal Oval Guiguinto 54,000 Mar 9 Abra Sports Complex Bangued Abra Mar 10CARAA Ground Tabuk Kalinga Mar 11 Laguna Provincial Capitol Santa CruzLaguna45,000 Santa Rosa Sports Complex Santa Rosa 55,000 Mar 12 Bradco Avenue cor. J.W. Diokno Boulevard Parañaque –CanceledMar 13The Tent at Vista Global South Las Piñas – 18,000 Mar 15Barangay Andal Alino Open Field Talavera Nueva Ecija 60,000 Mar 17Bataan People's Center Balanga Bataan Zambales Sports Complex Iba Zambales 30,000Mar 19Marikina Riverbanks Amphitheater Marikina – 130,000 Mar 20 Barangay Potrero Malabon – Mar 22 General Trias Sports Park General Trias Cavite 140,000 Mar 23 Quezon Convention Center Lucena Quezon Mar 27Polomolok GymnasiumPolomolokSouth Cotabato38,000South Cotabato Sports Complex Koronadal 80,000Mar 28 Carmen Municipal Park Carmen Cotabato Maguindanao Provincial Capitol Buluan Maguindanao Lambayong Municipal HallLambayongSultan KudaratSultan Kudarat Provincial Capitol Isulan 175,000 Mar 29 Universidad de Zamboanga Summit Centre Zamboanga City Zamboanga del Sur 10,000Mar 30Townsite, KingkingPantukanDavao de Oro Carmen Municipal Grounds Carmen Davao del NorteDesi Heights Digos Davao del Sur120,000Mar 31Provincial Capitol Complex Marawi Lanao del Sur Capitol Grounds Malaybalay Bukidnon 100,000Apr 2Tarlac City Plaza Tarlac CityTarlacBarangay Cristo Rey Oval Capas Paniqui Public Auditorium Paniqui 90,000Apr 8University of Eastern PhilippinesCatarmanNorthern Samar 7,000Plaza de SantiagoBoronganEastern SamarSamar Provincial CapitolCatbaloganSamarNaval GymnasiumNavalBiliranApr 9Maasin TerminalMaasinSouthern LeyteCanceledBaybay City Convention CenterBaybayLeyte60,000Ormoc City SuperdomeOrmoc20,000Leyte Sports ComplexTacloban200,000Apr 13Batasan RoadQuezon City–Apr 18City di MareCebu CityCebu300,000 Apr 20 LIMA Estate Lipa Batangas 94-100,000 Apr 21 Biñan Football Field Biñan Laguna 50,000Apr 23Earnshaw Street Manila – 14,000 Apr 24Arca South Taguig – Apr 26 Mindanao Civic Centre Tubod Lanao del Norte Pelaéz Sports Complex Cagayan de Oro Misamis Oriental 200,000Apr 29 Sta. Arcadia Cabanatuan Nueva Ecija 300,000Robinsons Starmills San Fernando Pampanga 250,000 Apr 30 Paglaum Sports Complex Bacolod Negros Occidental 15,000 May 1Isabela Sports Complex Ilagan Isabela May 3Guimbal Football Field Guimbal Iloilo May 5 City Hall Grounds Tagum Davao del Norte May 7 Block 7, Aseana City Parañaque – 1,000,000
Polling