Miriam, Bongbong finalizing ‘nuts and bolts’ of campaign, senatorial lineup

The tandem of Senators Miriam Defensor Santiago and Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. are now finalizing the “nuts and bolts” of their campaign and their senatorial slate.

 

In a weekly news forum at the Senate, Marcos mentioned the names of Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno, Rep. Manny Pacquiao, and Susan “Toots” Ople as among those who will be included in their lineup.

 

“The usual system is pinaghahatian 'yung slate: six sa akin, six sa kanya. Pero baka mas maganda na pag-agree-han na lang lahat ng senatorial lineup. Mayroong gusto si Sen. Miriam, mayroong gusto ako, but I think it would be better for us to agree on the 12 kaysa hatiin 'yung 6-6,” he told reporters.

 

“I don’t want to speak out of term dahil hindi pa areglado. Those mentioned are the names that we have agreed upon. There are still (some) na hindi pa natitiyak; we haven’t agreed yet. Not that we are disagreeing but hindi pa namin na-finalize,” he added.

 

The senator said their staff are working on how they will campaign.

 

“As the campaign period approaches, nasa nuts and bolts details na kami ngayon. Iyong mga pinaplano, kung ano ang events na pupuntahan, ano 'yung sabay na pupuntahan, ano 'yung hiwalay, scheduling and all the other details that come with this kind of arrangement,” he said.

 

Asked if he thinks Santiago will be able to conduct a presidential campaign amid the fact that she is recuperating from stage 4 lung cancer, Marcos replied in the affirmative.

 

“As far as I’m concerned, basta sinabi niya na ready siya, I take her word for it. Siya ang nakakaalam kung ano ang kanyang nararamdaman, kung ano ang kaya niya,” he said.

 

“I don’t think she would embark upon this knowing the state of her health. Hindi niya papasukan ito na hindi niya kaya. Papasukan niya dahil alam niyang kaya niya,” he added.

 

Marcos further said that his tandem with Santiago has been official since the latter declared her candidacy.

 

“It’s been official for quite a long time already, from the time since Sen. Miriam declared her candidacy. This (tandem) was something we have been talking about informally for some time,” he said.

 

He said Santiago has not finalized her own plans a week before the filing of candidacy, and when she finally made a decision, that was the time she approached him to be her running mate. —KG, GMA News