Political alliance MARCOS TO RUN FOR VEEP; GIVES SUPPORT TO DUTERTE

By Manny Piñol

Senator Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., the only son and namesake of the late President Marcos, will declare his bid for the Vice Presidency in his family’s ancestral home in Paoay, Ilocos Norte on Oct. 10.

Sources in the Marcos camp said the young Marcos, who is a member of the Nacionalista Party (NP), will run as an independent candidate but will announce his support for the expected Presidential run of Davao City Mayor Rody Duterte.

The same sources said the Marcos camp turned down overtures from the camp of Vice President Jejomar Binay for him to run as a “Guest Vice Presidential running mate.”

“There is just too much political differences between him and VP Binay for that partnership to happen,” said the source who requested anonymity.

Marcos’ expected public declaration of support for Duterte makes him the second independent Vice Presidential candidate to align with the Davao City Mayor who had earlier declared that he was not interested in the Presidency.

Earlier, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano travelled to Davao City with his sister, Senator Pia Cayetano, to declare his bid for the Vice Presidency in a media event at the Grand Menseng Hotel.

During the press conference which followed his declaration, Cayetano publicly declared his support for Duterte.

Following Cayetano’s announcement, thousands of “Duterte-Cayetano” streamers were seen in Metro Manila streets.

Duterte, duirng a simple dinner with the Cayetanos in a native chicken restaurant in Davao City, thanked them for their support but told them that he as still going through a “final soul-searching” on the issue of the Presidency.

“Bongbong has this gut feel that Mayor Duterte would eventually yield to the appeal of the people for him to run,” said the source.

Marcos visited Davao City last week to personally meet with Duterte and asked the Mayor for advise.

“Bongbong is an admirer of the leadership brand of Mayor Duterte and this weighed heavily in the decision-making on who to align with in the 2016 elections,” the source said.

Marcos’ support for Duterte would give the Davao City Mayor the much-needed boost in the Ilocano-speaking provinces in Northern Luzon where he is perceived to be an unknown political entity.

Cayetano’s endorsement of Duterte, on the other hand, would contribute to the Mayor’s strength in Metro Manila where he already enjoys a 21% acceptance rating according to the latest surveys.

Both Marcos’ and Cayetano’s public declaration of support for Duterte is also seen as a strategic tactical move as it would boost their image in Mindanao where the Davao Mayor enjoys a very high approval rating.