BBM throws hat in presidential race, finally

FORMER senator, Ferdinand ‘Bongbong/BBM’ Marcos Jr., on Wednesday, October 6, 2021, formally filed his ‘Certificate of Candidacy’ (COC) for president at the Commission on Elections (Comelec), a day after delivering a brief speech where he confirmed his decision to run for president and offered to give a “unifying leadership” as the country continues to struggle from the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I will bring back that form of unifying leadership in our country,” Marcos said.

The news about Marcos’ filing of his candidacy under the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, overshadowed the filing of the respective COCs of Sen. Panfilo Lacson for president and Senate President Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto III, as vice president, under the Nationalist People’s Coalition on the same day.

As of October 7, a day before the end of the filing of COCs, all of the ‘big names’ who have announced their intention to replace Pres. Duterte after the May 9, 2022 elections, have filed their COCs, namely:

Sen. Emmanuel ‘Manny/Pacman’ Pacquiao, who is running under a faction of the PDP-Laban and his running mate, Buhay Partylist Rep. Lito Atienza who filed their COCs on October 1, 2021;

Manila mayor Francisco ‘Isko Moreno’ Domagoso and his running mate, Dr. Willie Ong, under the Aksyon Demokratiko who filed their COCs last October 4, 2021; Lacson and Marcos who is yet to announce who would be his running mate.

The last to file her COC last October 7 is Vice President Leni Robredo with Sen. Francis ‘Kiko’ Pangilinan as her running mate. Robredo, however, filed her COC, as an “independent,” and not as a member of the Liberal Party (LP), signaling she is distancing herself from being identified with the “Dilawan.”

Despite this, Robredo is being supported by the ‘1Sambayan,’ a loose coalition of all anti-Duterte groups mainly composed of personalities from the previous Aquino administration, the LP and the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) represented by the leaders of its front organizations.

The main political platform of 1Sambayan is to prevent a return of another Marcos in Malacañang and a return to power of the LP and its communist allies.

Robredo defeated BBM in 2016 for the vice presidency, a victory mired in controversy after BBM filed an electoral protest claiming he was a victim of cheating.

After his filing of his COC, BBM admitted that he was hoping to have Pres. Duterte as his running mate but was “surprised” when the Chief Executive withdrew his nomination in favor of Sen. Christopher ‘Bong’ Go last October 2, 2021.

Marcos’ announcement and formal filing of his COC for president also made good the confident assurance to the public of Atty. Larry Gadon that he would do so.

Gadon, filed his COC as a senator under the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL) last October 6, 2021.

A week before the filing of COCs, Gadon told Pinoy Exposé he would not run for the Senate should he be proven wrong on BBM’s candidacy.

This would be the third time that Gadon would be seeking a Senate seat, after his failed bids in the 2016 and 2019 elections.

Using the COVID-19 pandemic and the adverse effects it has brought to the country for nearly two years now as a backgrounder, BBM said only a “unifying leadership” can help overcome the present crisis and challenges the country is now facing.

“I know that it is this manner of unifying leadership that can lead us through this crisis. Join me in this noblest of causes and we will succeed.

“Sama-sama tayong babangon muli,” Marcos said.

Should Marcos win, it would only be the third time in Philippine presidential history that an offspring succeeded his parent as president, after Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Pres. Benigno ‘Noynoy Aquino.

Arroyo is the daughter of Pres. Diosdado Macapagal who was president from 1961 to 1965 and was succeeded to the post by Pres. Ferdinand Marcos, BBM’s father.

Aquino, who died from health complications last June 24, 2021, was the only son of Pres. Corazon Aquino who became president in 1986 after the illegal removal of the elder Marcos.

In her brief speech after the filing of her COC, Robredo, for her part, said she is running without regard for her own “ego” and self-interest.

“Ipaglalaban ko kayo hanggang dulo, itataya ko ang lahat,” Robredo told her supporters.

 “Buong-buo ang tiwala ko, magtatagumpay tayo,” she added.

(Editor’s Note: As we go to press, Sen. Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa filed his COC for president during the closing minutes of the filing for COC last October 8, 2021. Dela Rosa is now the official candidate of the PDP-Laban faction of Pres. Duterte but said he would give way should Davao City mayor Sara Duterte changes her mind and run for president instead of seeking re-election as Davao City mayor).