Two organizations of former University of the Philippines (UP) student leaders told former Senator Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. that he’s delusional for saying he will win in another head-to-head contest with Vice President Leni Robredo in the 2022 elections.
(FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Sandigan para sa Mag-aaral at Sambayan (SAMASA) and Nagkaisang Tugon (TUGON), former rival political parties at the University of the Philippines-Diliman, scoffed at Marcos’ claim that he can easily win against Robredo even as he already lost by a slim margin during the 2016 vice presidential race.
“He is clearly delusional about the status of his election protest. No less than the Supreme Court has declared that VP Leni Robredo won the 2016 Vice Presidential elections when it unanimously dismissed Bongbong Marcos’ election protest on the ground that he had no evidence to back up his fake claims of electoral fraud,” a statement from the two political parties said on Thursday, September 9.
“We strongly criticize Bongbong Marcos on his delusional claim today that he will win the May 2022 Presidential elections against Vice President Leni Robredo. We dare say: ‘You lost; you will lose again!’,” they added.
In February this year, the Supreme Court junked Marcos’ electoral protest, ending a five-year-long claim that he was cheated by Robredo in the 2016 polls.
Marcos is the son of the late dictator, former President Ferdinand Marcos.
READ: Robredo lawyer tells Marcos camp: Accept defeat
The groups also criticized the former senator for his admission that he spent P72 million for the “sham election contest” when the Marcoses “have no known substantial source of livelihood other than public office.”
They called for an “investigation and inspection” of the Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) of the Marcoses.
“To date, the Filipino people are still waiting for the return of his family’s ill-gotten wealth,” the groups said.
Instead of using that money for his electoral protest, the group said Marcos should’ve spent that money for helping Filipinos during the pandemic.
“Bongbong Marcos has been notably absent in any relief effort to help marginalized Filipinos especially at this time of the pandemic,” the statement added.
Last month, the two groups declared their support for Robredo if she decides to run as president next year.
READ: UP alumni group urges Robredo: Run for president in 2022
They reaffirmed this support this time by saying that they will back Robredo’s candidacy similar to what they did when she run for vice president in 2016.
The statement said that the two groups also joined forces in 2016 to help defeat Marcos in the elections.
“Our nation needs a leader whose feet are firmly on the ground and has a clear plan to address our problems. We need Leni Robredo for president,” they stressed.
Robredo has yet to decide if she will seek the presidency in 2022. She said she’s still focused on her office’s pandemic response.
Marcos, on the other hand, said he’s mulling the possibility of running as president because of his supporters.