Bongbong formally announces 2016 vice presidential run

By ANDREI MEDINA, GMA News

Published October 10, 2015 5:09pm

(Updated 5:26 p.m.) Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Saturday formally declared his intention to run for vice president in the upcoming 2016 national elections.

“Dahil dito taos-puso kong hinaharap ang hamon ng panahon, ang hamon ng bagong henerasyon. Tinatanggap ko, tinatanggap ko ng buong pagpapakumbaba ang hamon ng bayan,” Marcos said in his speech at the Puerta Real Garden in Intramuros, Manila.

He added: “Tatakbo ako sa susunod na halalan bilang bise presidente ng Republika ng Pilipinas. Mabuhay ang Pilipino, mabuhay ang Pilipinas!"

The event was attended by Marcos' mother, former first lady and Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos, Senator Juan Ponce Enrile and former president and Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada.

Estada endorsed Marcos, whom he was all praises for, particularly, his qualification to the vice president position with his extensive experience as a senator and former governor of Ilocos Norte.

“Isang karangalan para sa akin na i-endorso ang ating kagalanggalang na senador, walang iba kungdi ang Senator Bongbong Marcos,” Estrada said.

“Itong araw na ito bilang ating kandidato sa pagkapangalawang pangulo ng ating bansang Pilipinas sa darating na halalan sa susunod na taon. Hindi ako nagdalawang-isip at lalong hindi ako nahirapan na gawin ang desisyon na ito,” he added.

Marcos is the fifth politician to throw in his hat in the 2016 vice presidential race.

Those who have earlier declared their intention to run for vice president were Senators Francis "Chiz" Escudero, Alan Peter Cayetano, Antonio Trillanes IV, and Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo.

Senator Gringo Honasan has yet to accept Vice President Jejomar Binay's offer to become his running mate and join the vice presidential race.

In the latest Pulse Asia survey, Marcos' was one of the three names that had double-digit national voter preference for vice president with 13 percent.

The survey was topped by Sen. Grace Poe, who has said she will run for president in 2016, with 24 percent. She is statistically-tied with Escudero, her running mate, who got 23 percent.

Cayetano got nine percent in the survey while Trillanes got 4 percent and Robredo got three percent.

The latest Social Weather Stations survey was also topped by Poe with 25 percent followed by Escudero with 18 percent.

Marcos and Roxas both got six percent while Cayetano got three percent and Robredo got two percent. Trillanes got only one percent in the survey. —ALG, GMA News

Tags: ferdinandbongbongmarcosjr, eleksyon2016