Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr declared he is running for vice president Monday evening.
The son and namesake of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos said he will campaign against “the politics of personality,” which helped cause poverty and corruption.
Marcos said he will support Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte should the mayor decide to run for president. Last week, he flew to Davao City to consult the mayor on his 2016 political plans. Duterte has yet to make a final decision on whether or not to run for president.
Marcos also said he decided against running with opposition standard-bearer Vice President Jejomar Binay despite talks that spanned two months because it would be “difficult to tame political differences.”
Binay was a human rights lawyer who fought the dictatorship of the senator’s father. The Vice President was jailed under martial law, and became a loyal supporter of the elder Marcos’ rival, former President Cory Aquino.
Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
This developed as Liberal Party vice presidential standard bearer candidacy was launched at Club Filipino in Greenhills Monday.
“If there is one lesson that I learned after the death of my husband, it is that we can never really plan too far ahead,” Camarines Sur 3rd District Representative Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo said.
Her candidacy for vice president was announced in a gathering at the Kalayaan Hall of Club Filipino. Those pushing Leni into a vice presidential run compare her to the late President Cory Aquino. Like Cory, Leni is a widow who entered politics to continue her husband’s legacy. Leni’s background and clean image make her winnable, supporters say, her low survey numbers notwithstanding.
A September Pulse Asia survey showed her trailing behind her vice presidential rivals, ranking 10th. Former Quezon representative Erin Tañada said it would not be difficult to improve her numbers. “It’s not hard to sell her. She has no baggage. It’s very easy to campaign for her.” For her first sortie as vice presidential aspirant, Robredo has chosen to visit the province of Negros Occidental on Tuesday, a bailiwick of her standard-bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II.
Meanwhile, former mutineer and now senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Saturday formally declared that he will run for vice president nine days before the start of the filing of Certificates of Candidacy in the upcoming 2016 national elections.
Trillanes announced his intention to run in a speech during the Magdalo group’s general meeting at the Amoranto Sports Complex, Quezon City.
“Sa inyong pasya ako po ay tatakbo bilang bise presidente ng ating bansa sa darating na halalan,” he told the Magdalo crowd.
“Ako ay naniniwala na habang ang ating layunin ay i-ahon ang ating bayan, ayusin ang ating gobyerno at tulungan ang ating kapawa — at lalo na habang tayo ay nagkakaisa — tayo ay magtatagumpay,” he also said.
Magdalo party-list Rep. Ashley Acedillo, who introduced Trillanes, said before Trillanes gave his speech that the group will support Sen. Grace Poe as its presidential candidate.
Trillanes made the group’s endorsement of Poe official by reading a resolution that the Magdalo had earlier passed.
Poe’s running mate Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero meanwhile said in a statement that he wishes Trillanes luck.
“He is qualified and has every right to offer himself for higher office and service… I wish him all the best,” he said.
He also thanked Trillanes for supporting Poe’s presidential run.
“By embracing Senator Grace’s platform of government, he is one with all of us in our vision for a government that truly cares and genuinely serves the people. This is very much appreciated,” he said.
Trillanes is a member of the Nacionalista Party, of which another member and colleague, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano also announced his vice presidential bid on Tuesday.
He first won a seat in the Senate in 2007 while in detention for his involvement in the Oakwood Mutiny in 2003.
World boxing champ and Sarangani congressman Manny Pacquiao also formally declared, his widely expected Senate run, but did not say under which party banner he would be running.
Pacquiao is reportedly under pressure from advisers and political allies to break away from the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) of Vice President Jejomar Binay, but the boxer is known to value loyalty and has made a commitment to support Binay.
Malacañang has been cold to Pacquiao, with Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares filing a tax evasion case against him. Pacquiao’s beef with President Benigno Aquino III started in 2009, when he made a dig at the then presidential candidate for the latter’s lack of hair.
