 Marcos instructed Nacionalista Party president José Roy to find a token candidate to oppose him.The Nacionalista Party was then a moribund political entity because Marcos, who was elected twice before under its banner, had alternately lured and coerced the vast majority its members to his new Kilusang Bagong Lipunan.The Nacionalista Party chose former Defense Secretary and Bulacan governor Alejo Santos as their standard bearer.