Marcos gives self 24-hours to find a running mate; Go a possible option
In search for his running mate, Presidential aspirant Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday October 7 said he is faced with two options: Vice presidential candidate Senator Christopher Go or someone from his Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP).
Conditions are still volatile, in a state of flux, Marcos said as his party has to make a decision today or tomorrow, the last day for the filing of certificates of candidacy (COC) for national positions with the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
‘’Maari (an option),’’ Marcos replied to a query by CNN Philippines on whether he is comfortable with Go as his running mate.
He said he would toss this problem to his party and for them to make a quick decision on whether to adopt Go, field someone from our party, ‘’or continue as we are.’’
Marcos, son of the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos, is chairman of Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), a center-right party accredited by the Comelec in October, 2018.
In joining PFP, Marcos left the 114-year-old Nacionalista Party (NP), the oldest political party in the Philippines and Southeast Asia.
Last Wednesday, Marcos that he planned to adopt President Duterte as his running mate but Duterte surprised everybody when the President withdrew his vice presidential plans.
In his stead, Senator Go filed his COC as vice president.
As an ally of the Dutertes, Marcos said he earlier spoke to Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea; Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, president of the Partido Demokratikong Pilipino (PDP)-Laban party; and Go of his plan to adopt the President as his vice presidential candidate.
President Duterte later announced he was cancelling his bid for the vice presidency because of calls for him not to go through with it because of is not constitutionally tenable.
This threw a monkey wrench to Marcos’ plan.
‘’This is an unusual campaign. Every single day, there are many developments. We will make party adjustments,’’ he added.
Asked about the President’s daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte in his political plans, Marcos said she is always an option but she has ‘’decided to step away from national elections.’’
Sara recently filed her COC to seek a reelection.
In the latest Pulse Asia survey, Sara Duterte led other probable presidential bets, followed by Marcos.
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