Imelda wants Bongbong 'to serve the Filipino like his father'

(Updated 10:56 p.m.) Former First Lady and Ilocos Norte Representative Imelda Marcos is praying that her son, Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., gets the opportunity serve the country like his father and namesake, the late former dictator.

"Of course, we can only pray that he makes it so that he will have the privilege to serve the Filipino like his father," Imelda told reporters at the Commission on Elections office in Manila, where Bongbong filed his certificate of candidacy for vice president on Tuesday.

The late former President Ferdinand Marcos was elected in 1965 and was re-elected in 1969. He declared martial law in 1972 before his term was supposed to end in 1973.

The elder Marcos then served as president until the People Power Revolution forced him out of office in February 1986 and installed Corazon Aquino as president.

Bongbong's critics have been pushing him to acknowledge and apologize for the human rights violations committed under the Marcos dictatorship.

On Tuesday, the 86-year-old Imelda no longer went with Bongbong inside the Comelec building because of the crowd that gathered.

"Thank you for your interest. This is a good sign," Bongbong told reporters after he filed his COC for vice president.

It appears that Bongbong has yet to find who to support for president.

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who Bongbong met in Davao City weeks ago, has said that he wouldn't seek the presidency.

"Sabi ko naman sa yo, ang kasama ko ang aking boss," Bongbong said, referring to his wife, lawyer Liza Araneta-Marcos, who accompanied him when he filed his COC. —Joseph Morong/NB/JST, GMA News