Imee Marcos surprised by Bongbong’s VP run

Imee Marcos/FACEBOOK PHOTO

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines—Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos said she was surprised by the declaration of her younger brother, Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., that he would seek the vice presidency in next year’s election.

READ: Bongbong Marcos joins VP derby

In a statement sent on Wednesday, Governor Marcos said in Filipino: “We were surprised because he denied running with Vice President Jejomar Binay but then he suddenly said he would run for Vice President. We know this is a decision that needs a lot of thinking but he, of course, already made the declaration.”

The governor said the decision was sound because her brother would be the only Ilocano candidate vying for the second highest office in the land.

“He is the only Ilocano candidate running so let’s take advantage of the luck this brings. Bicol will be divided but not the Ilocos so there may be a chance he can succeed, backed by the Solid North vote,” she said.

The Solid North refers to the bloc vote delivered by Ilocanos or the preference of Ilocanos to deliver votes for a fellow Ilocano.

While Ilocos Norte, the Marcoses’ home province, has only 361,977 registered voters (as of 2010), the supposed clout of the Solid North extends to some provinces in Northern Luzon and to Ilocano communities scattered around the country.

The governor said Senator Marcos believes this is a good opportunity to seek a higher post.

“I hope he found someone he feels comfortable as presidential candidate. His campaign should proceed because now we get the sense that people were not content with three choices. Now we have six choices for Vice President so it seems the race is on,” she said.

Ilocanos in Ilocos Norte and abroad also started consolidating to deliver votes for the senator.

While some preferred that Senator Marcos seek the presidency, they said they would respect and support his decision to run for Vice President.

“We believe that this is the right opportunity for the silent majority to express support for the Marcoses. Whatever [Marcos] wishes, we are in full support of his candidacy. As early as now, we are planning to hold a rally backing him up. We believe in his leadership and his conviction to make this nation great again,” said Ric Agnes, chair of the Marcos for Peace Movement (MPM), a group based in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Agnes, however, said they were saddened with Marcos’ decision because they were hoping that he would run for President. “In fact, we organized a recent symposium to debase the issues against martial law or at least present just and fair treatment about it,” he said.

Herdy Yumul, a sociology professor at the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) in Batac City, said this is the best time for Marcos to run for higher office “as Filipinos, including the younger generation, now see the Marcoses in a very positive light.”

“If [Marcos] runs his campaign well, he has a big chance of becoming vice president. To his advantage, he is the only vice presidential candidate from the vaunted Solid North, the biggest regional bloc in the country,” said Yumul.

Marcos served Ilocos Norte as governor and representative before being elected senator.

Shermon Cruz, a leader of a nongovernment organization in Ilocos Norte, said Marcos’ chance of winning the vice presidency may be boosted should Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte decide to run for President and support his bid.

READ: Bongbong Marcos: Duterte promised to support me

“Events and his alliance… with [Duterte] are factors that make Marcos a strong candidate for [Vice President],” said Cruz.

He said, however, that Marcos’ bid is hampered by a lack of focus and a unified support from the Nacionalista Party and the Marcos family’s “political baggage.”

“His… aces would be the solid Ilocano vote, the Iglesia ni Cristo’s support, the OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) and the growing number of Filipinos disgruntled with the Aquino administration,” Cruz said. Vincent Cabreza and Leilanie Adriano, Inquirer Northern Luzon