Congressman Marcos files candidacy for senator

MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE) Ilocos Norte Representative and Deputy Minority Leader Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. filed his candidacy for senator with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Saturday.

“I'm still member of KBL but I am official candidate of NP [Nacionalista Party],” said Marcos, who was wearing a red shirt – the official color of the KBL or Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (Movement for a New Society) that he said was “lucky.”

Marcos had allied the KBL with the NP of Senator Manny Villar, which included the congressman in the NP senatorial slate.

The move prompted militant leaders and anti-Marcos activists Bayan Muna Representative Satur Ocampo and Gabriela leader Liza Maza to junk plans to join the NP and instead run as independent senatorial candidates.

Asked to comment on this, Marcos said: Sa pag-uusap usap nakahanap sila ng paraan upang itong mga problema ay maplantsa na [During the negotiations, they were able to find the solution to iron out the problems]. Those problems have been settled and resolved. I have not talked with them yet. Last time I saw Ka Satur was during Congress session pa,” said Marcos.

Bearing the name of the late president Ferdinand Marcos has “proved beneficial” to his political career and added that he was proud to be a Marcos, denouncing allegations that his parent's legacy has been hounding him.

He added that issues linking him to the martial law dictator would surface again as the elections near but he would be “ready to face them.”

When asked what policies of his father he would focus on if he won the elections, Marcos said:

“Well, that is not the way I approach problems na kung ano ginawa ngaking ama [as to what my father did]. Ang mga problema na kinakaharap ng Pilipinas ngayon ay kaiba sa problemang hinarap niya noon. Kaya kung anumang solusyon dapat bagong solusyon din [The problems faced by the Philippines today are different from the problems he faced. This is why the solutions to today’s problems should also be different],” said Marcos.

“I would focus on education, economy and solving corruption in the government. Yung mga salbahe hindi pabayaan at dapat maimbestigahan [We should not let go of those who are corrupt],” said Marcos.

Marcos Jr. was the first in his family to return from exile in 1992 after the Marcoses were forced into exile following their ouster from power in 1986 via popular revolt.

At 23, Marcos was elected vice governor of Ilocos Norte in 1980 and served as governor for three terms.

He is married to lawyer Louise Araneta with whom he has three sons.