SAYING he sought to provide the country a unifying leadership, former Sen. Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos, Jr. officially threw his hat for the presidency under a “convoy of political parties, sectoral movements and youth organizations” led by the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP).
He filed his Certificate of Candidacy for the presidency before noon Wednesday (October 6), accompanied by his wife, Atty. Louise, and two sons, Ferdinand Alexander and Joseph Simon.
In a live broadcast aired on his Facebook page Tuesday, Marcos had formally announced his intention to run for the May 2022 national elections, expressing hopes of bringing all Filipinos to work together towards a shared vision and goal, especially as the country continues to face challenges from the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I am today announcing my intention to run for the Presidency of the Philippines in the upcoming May 2022 elections. I will bring that form of unifying leadership back to our country. Join me in this noblest of causes and we will succeed. Sama-sama tayong babangon muli [Together we will get back on our feet],” Marcos said.
“Hangad kong ibalik ang mapagkaisang paglilingkod na magbubuklod sa ating bansa. Tayo’y magkaisa at sama-sama tayong babangon mula sa hagupit ng pandemya, babangon mula sa paglulugmok ng ating ekonomiya [I dream of restoring a unifying kind of service that will bind our nation. Let’s be united and together recover from the pandemic; let us arise from the ruins of the economy],” he added.
Marcos said the global pandemic, the Philippines’ greatest test in history, has taught Filipinos that they always need one another in trying times.
“We must face the challenge as one, as one country, as one people. Together we must work towards a shared vision of our country through Covid and beyond Covid to find a way through this crisis with a common goal of vision to guide us and to lead us,” he stressed.
“I know that it is this manner of unifying leadership that can lead us through this crisis,” Marcos said.
Before his announcement, Marcos officially took his oath as a new member and the new chairman of PFP.
Duterte pick for VP
Meanwhile, Marcos Jr. said he was planning to adopt and field President Duterte for his running mate in the May 9, 2022 elections.
In an interview with reporters after filing his certificate of candidacy with the Commission on Elections, Marcos admitted that he and the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas had earlier planned to have Duterte as his vice presidential candidate, during their initial talks.
But he said the plan fell through, however, after Duterte announced his retirement from politics last Saturday, which is why no one was with him to file a CoC for vice president.
“I’d be very candid with you. The reason why (no one filed for vice president under PFP) is this – the original plan was for us to adopt PRRD for our vice presidential candidate, pero sa mga nangyari noong nakaraang Sabado eh nagbago lahat ng plano. Kaya’t ngayon eh nag-consulta kami, ‘yung partido at syempre lahat nung mga ating ibang kasamahan na kung anong dapat gawin, and what do we do now and so that is where it is,” the former senator said.
In seeking the highest elective office in the land, the only son and namesake of President Ferdinand Marcos said he could heal the politically divided, economically fractured, and pandemic-plagued country.
“Join me in this noblest of causes, and we will succeed,” Marcos, popularly known as “Bongbong” and more recently, BBM, said in a three-minute speech.
“If we have learned anything in this time of Covid pandemic, it is that each of us, no matter our station, is in need of the help of our fellow Filipinos,” he said.
The 64-year-old presidential candidate is the fourth politician to formalize intent to succeed Duterte, who is set to bow out of office next year.
Meanwhile, Marcos said he would come up with the list of his Senate slate in the next few days, adding that he is still completing the roster of senatorial candidates.
“’Yung sa Senado naman, we will be providing you the list of our senatorial candidates in the very near future, within days, within days from now. Kung mapupuno ang, ‘yung twelve na punong slate I cannot say for sure yet, but at the very least eh siguro we will field seven, eight, or nine candidates. Or baka mabuo pa ‘yung twelve,” he disclosed.
Marcos has been in politics for over three decades – as provincial vice governor, governor, congressman and senator.
Image courtesy of Roy Domingo/BM
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