Not even Duterte's endorsement can convince Bongbong to run in 2019

Former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Wednesday ruled out the possibility of reclaiming a Senate seat in the 2019 midterm elections, saying he is focused on winning his electoral protest against Vice President Leni Robredo.

“I am not running for senator in 2019. Hindi ko titigilan ang protestang ito dahil tapat ang aking paniniwala na dinaya ako noong nakaraang halalan at ipapalabas ko ang tunay na bilang ng boto nang malaman ng tao kung sino talaga ang pinili ng taumbayan para maging bise presidente,” Marcos said at a weekly media forum in Manila.

Marcos said not even an endorsement from President Rodrigo Duterte would convince him to run for the Senate again, mindful of the fact that a victory could mean an abandonment of his poll protest.

The former senator cited the case filed by the late former Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago against former President Fidel Ramos after the 1992 national elections.

The Supreme Court, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), dismissed the protest in February 1996 because Santiago ran and assumed office as senator in 1995 while her protest was pending.

“I will have to decline [if the President drafts me for the administration’s Senate slate] because I’m determined to finish this protest,” Marcos said.

Marcos said he does not see any reason for him to change his mind.

“Bakit ako tatakbo ng senador eh nanalo na ako ng bise presidente?” he said.

While he appreciates the “continued support” of the public, Marcos pointed to the importance of knowing the “real” result of the 2016 vice presidential contest.

“What is at stake here is not only my candidacy, not only the result of the vice presidential election, but what is also at stake here is the electoral process. At ang mga tao kailangang malaman kung ano ba talaga ang resulta, sino ba talaga ang pinili ng tao,” the former senator said.

“I am determined to finish this electoral protest. Hindi ko titigilan ito,” he said.

The PET is expected to begin in February the recount of votes in connection with the election protest filed by Marcos.

The ballot recount covers the three pilot provinces of Camarines Sur, Iloilo and Negros Oriental chosen by Marcos as the best provinces where he could prove the irregularities alleged in his protest.

First to be reviewed are the ballots from the contested clustered precincts in Camarines Sur, to be followed by the two other pilot provinces.

Robredo’s lawyer, Romulo Macalintal, had said that under the PET Rules, if Marcos could not prove any substantial recovery of votes from these three pilot provinces, the former senator’s protest will be dismissed for lack of merit.

Marcos lost to Robredo by 263,473 votes in the May 2016 election which the former senator claimed was marred by fraud. —ALG/BM, GMA News