Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr., October 13, filed his certificate of candidacy for vice president in the May 2016 elections at the main office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Intramuros, Manila.
In a statement, Marcos said this marked the beginning of his fight to eradicate poverty, clean the streets of illegal drugs and other vices and crimes, eliminate graft and corruption in the government, boost the economy, and unite the Filipino people in nation-building for a progressive society.
Marcos, accompanied by his family and several supporters, walked to the Comelec after he prayed at the San Agustin Church.
On October 10 he formally proclaimed his vice presidential bid and vowed to wage a “revolution” for unity and change for a better Philippines.
“Sa tulong ninyo at ng bayan, pamumunuan ko ang isang rebolusyon sa puso, isip at gawa tungo sa isang tunay at makabuluhang pagbabago. Pamumunuan ko rin ang isang kampanya upang makamit natin ang ating mga pangarap sa buhay. Hindi ako makapapayag na mawala sa atin ang ilang bahagi ng ating bansa. Ipaglalaban ko ang integridad ng ating bayan,” he said in a speech.
He said that in his 30 years in public service, he had seen the sufferings of the people and the inability of the government to extract families from abject poverty, selective justice, and blatant connivance of corrupt government officials and greedy private individuals to siphon off the country’s wealth.
“Hanggang ngayon, naghihintay pa rin ang taumbayan attumitingin at umaasa sa ating mga lider na may gawin upang mabawasan man lang ang kanilang dinaranas na hirap at panganib. Wala pa tayong naririnig na sagot. Ingay lamang ng mga opisyal na nag-uunahan sa pwesto…Ingay lamang ng mga nang-aabuso at nagnanakaw sa kaban ng bayan,” Marcos said.
Marcos is an incumbent senator who was elected in 2010, placing 7th overall. He currently chairs the Senate Committee on Local Government and the Committee on Public Works.
Marcos is banking on his extensive experience in the executive department as one of his main qualifications to convince voters in the May 2010 elections that he is the right man for the job as the country’s next Vice President.
“I know most of them and certainly they are qualified to run for the post. But I’m the only one who served as an elected official in the executive department, for one,” Marcos replied, when asked by reporters on what sets him apart from his major rivals.
Marcos began his career in public service when he was elected as Vice Governor of IlocosNorte in 1981. Three years later, he was elected as Governor of the Province.
After his stint as Representative of the Second District of Ilocos Norte from 1992 up to1995, he served again as Ilocos Norte’s Governor for two terms, spanning the period from 1998 to 2007.
He returned to the Legislative Department as a member of the House of Representatives, again representing Ilocos Norte’s Second District from 2007 to 2010. It was at the end of this term when he ran and won as Senator.
I’ve seen first hand how local government works and the problems and challenges facing them. I believe this experience has prepared me to handle the responsibilities of a Vice President,” Marcos added.
As three term governor of Ilocos Norte, Marcos was credited with transforming the province to a first-class province by harnessing and developing its potential and embarked as well on his pioneering project for alternative energy source through the now famous Bangui and Pagudpud windmill farms.
The growth of tourism not only generated new jobs for the residents of the province but spawned other tourism-related industries, spurring the growth of the local economy.
In formally declaring his intention to run for the post of Vice President Marcos outlined his top priorities, which included jobs creation.
“I have a vision, I have a plan, and I have the knowledge and experience to carry out such plans,” Marcos said.
