Marcos vows to maximize post if elected: ‘VP not a spare tire’

Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is guest speaker at the Radyo Inquirer “Issues Forum” in Olongapo City. YUJI GONZALES/INQUIRER.net

OLONGAPO CITY—Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Tuesday vowed to maximize the vice  presidency, which is often perceived as a substitute to the president, should he be elected in the upcoming May national elections.

“Hindi ko tanggap na spare tire ang isang vice president, dahil kasama sa iyong katungkulan na kung sakali mang hindi maituloy ng pangulo ang kanyang pagka-presidente, kailangan laging handa ang bise presidente dahil siya ang hahalili,” Marcos said during the first Radyo Inquirer “Issues Forum” here.

(I can’t accept that being a vice president is a spare tire because it is included in the position that if the president could not continue his or her term, the vice president should be prepared to take over.)

“Hindi naman siguro ako binoto ng taumbayan na walang gagawing maganda kaya i-ma-maximize ko ‘yung aking pag-upo bilang bise presidente,” he added.

(I don’t think the Filipino people will vote for me for nothing so I will maximize my post [if I will be elected vice president].)

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The son and namesake of the late dictator said that the first thing he will do if elected is to report to the president and express his support and readiness to cooperate.

“Ang una kong gagawin, pupuntahan ko ang aking pangulo at magre-report ako, sasabihin ko (The first thing I would do is I would report to the president and I would tell him or her that) ‘I am your vice president, I am here, I am ready to work with you,'” he said.

If he will choose a Cabinet position, Marcos said he wants to head the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

“Kapag tinatanong ako ng media kung sakali mang ako ay maluklok bilang bise presidente na department na ako’y magiging pangulo, ang aking laging sinasagot ay DOLE. h nagtataka ang iba kung bakit, e para sa akin ito ang isa sa pinakamahalagang problema natin dito sa Pilipinas,” he said.

(Whenever the media ask me what department I would choose to head if I would be elected vice president, I always say it would be DOLE. Some are wondering why I would choose it, but for me, it is the most significant problem [we have to address] in the Philippines.)

Marcos emerged as the front-runner in the latest Pulse Asia survey, edging out rival Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero by one percentage point. RAM

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