FILE PHOTO Former Senator Ferdinand “BongBong” Marcos. Screengrab from Pandesal Forum
MANILA, Philippines — Unfazed by the disqualification complaint against him, former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr on Wednesday said he is firm in his resolve to pursue his presidential bid in the 2022 elections.
“Hindi ako natatakot, hindi ako aatras. Hindi ako mag-withdraw. Patuloy ang lahat ng aking gagawin. Hindi ako mag-slide down (to a lower position),” said Marcos in an interview with RMN Palawan.
(I am not afraid. I will not back down and withdraw my candidacy. I will continue what I’m doing. I will not slide down.)
Marcos was referring to a petition filed by political detainees and human rights groups before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to cancel his certificate of candidacy for the presidency in relation to his tax evasion conviction in 1995.
The son of the late dictator and namesake said that such moves was not unexpected, and part and parcel of politics, knowing that politicians would try to do everything to take down their opponents.
“Siguro kasama na rin ‘yan sa pagpolitika lalo na ‘yong aming mga kalaban, imbes na humarap sa eleksyon. Kasi siguro natatakot sila sa numero, idi-disqualify na lang ako,” he said in a radio interview.
(I think that’s part of politicking. My opponents fear the support I have so instead of facing me in the elections itself, they would just have me disqualified.)
“Patuloy lang ang aking kandidatura at sa aking mga supporters sa buong Pilipinas, nagpapasalamat naman ako na hindi nawawala ang inyong tiwala sa akin,” he added.
(I will continue my candidacy and I thank my supporters for their continued trust in me.)
Marcos said his camp will answer the petition once they receive it.
In their complaint, petitioners claimed that Marcos is not eligible to run for any public office since the Quezon City Regional Trial Court convicted him in 1995 for his failure to file income tax returns.
They also claimed that Marcos’ certificate of candidacy “contains multiple false material representations.”
Marcos’ lawyer Vic Rodriguez, however, dismissed the move as a “predictable nuisance,” calling it as nothing more than a mere “propaganda.”