Bongbong Marcos mulls 2016 presidential bid

Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., right, studies a document with former-Senator Joker Arroyo during the impeachment trial of then-Chief Justice Renato Corona. Marcos said he was studying his options for the 2016 elections. MEDIA POOL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — “We will thoroughly study it.”

That was the answer of Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. when asked if he had plans of a presidential bid in 2016.

Interviewed on radio dzMM on Saturday, Marcos said that while he was considering a run for the chief executive’s post, seeking reelection remained his “default” option.

“Ang iniisip ko ay magre-reelection sa Senado. Iyon ang aking tinatawag na default setting,” (I am only thinking of seeking reelection in the Senate. That is what I call default setting) said Marcos.

READ: Marcos ‘keeping options open’ for 2016 elections

“Pero siyempre maraming nagsasabi na dapat akong tumakbo, na kaya naman siguro manalo. Pinakikinggan ko silang lahat. Pag-aaralan natin nang mabuti iyan,” (But many people are saying that I should run (as president), and that I have a chance of winning. I hear them. We will thoroughly study it.) he added.

The senator said that he was busy addressing various issues hounding the country.

“Sa ngayon, nakalubog tayo sa maraming isyung dapat tapusin. Tapusin muna natin ito (As of now, we are faced with many issues that need to be addressed. We should resolve these things first),” he said.

He revealed that he was preparing to be a candidate in the 2016 elections.

“Ang ginagawa ko ngayon ay naghahanda. ‘Yung pagtakbo, nandoon na ‘yun. Pero ‘yung posisyon, ‘yun ang katanungan,” (I am preparing. I will definitely run. But for what position, that is the question) said the senator, whose father ruled the country for more than 20 years—much of it as a dictator.

In the latest Pulse Asia presidential survey, Marcos placed sixth after Vice President Jejomar Binay, Sen. Grace Poe, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada and Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago.

He secured the approval of 6 percent of the total respondents.

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