By Addison Pascua

PHOTO: ABS-CBN News

After failing to win the vice-presidential race in 2016, Former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. will be gunning for the country’s top post in the upcoming 2022 national elections if he acquires enough support.

This statement came when he was asked during the Laging Handa briefing on Wednesday what possible circumstances will force him to run for president in 2022 given that he is consistently emerging as one of the top presidential bets in pre-election surveys.



“It is the usual [circumstances]. If there is a support for you, you have a vice president, senators, governors, mayors [who will support and run alongside you], you look at that,” Marcos said.

“Alliances have also become very important, and so I tend to go to grassroots, talk to the leaders. Mataas ka sa survey, titignan mo, totoo ba ‘yan? Kailangan alamin mo sa local leaders,” he added.

Barely two months before the filing of candidacy for next year’s national elections, Marcos said it is still difficult to make a final decision on running for 2022 for the moment due to some uncertainties including clear and enough grassroots support.

“If you have all of that (top level and grassroots support) and there is a way to win, you can run. Until that is clear, it would be premature to make a decision,” he stressed.

The former senator was earlier spotted meeting with presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, who also revealed she is open to seeking the presidency in 2022 as she continues to top pre-election polls.



Marcos, brother of current Senator Imee Marcos and son of the late dictator and former president Ferdinand Marcos lost the 2016 vice presidential race to then-Camarines Sur Representative Leni Robredo by 263, 473 votes.

Marcos then protested his loss before the Supreme Court, but the High Court unanimously dismissed this last February 2021 and upheld Vice President Leni Robredo’s electoral victory during the 2016 national elections.


Report source: GMA News