Bongbong likely to seek higher office

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is casting a moist eye on the presidency but is still open to being the running mate of Vice President Jejomar Binay.

“Well, at this time all we are talking about is higher office; we have not been discussing re-election to the Senate,” Marcos said when confronted over reports that he is being considered as part of the senatorial slate of the possible tandem of Sens. Grace Poe and Francis Escudero.

On possibly teaming up with Binay, Marcos said talks are underway but he declined to liken the discussion to a “courtship.”

“There is no courtship. The process is not like that of courtship. The process is continuation of communication, negotiations, planning for what may happen in 2016,” he said in Filipino before students of Perpetual Help College in Las Piñas.

Marcos was not closing his doors on Binay, who has been battered by corruption charges in relation to alleged anomalies in the building of Makati City Hall Building II as well as other shady transactions which have been subject of inquiry by the Senate Blue Ribbon committee.

“Everything is possible. This is politics; anything is possible here. There is no definite decision yet but like what I said, we do not discount anything. What I say repeatedly is never say never,” he said.

Marcos reiterated a final decision is likely in October during the filing of certificates of candidacy.

The Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) and Marcos loyalist group welcomed Marcos’ declaration to seek higher office.

A PDP-Laban source said they want the senator to run as vice president of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, but Marcos loyalist leader Oliver Lozano wants him to aim for the presidency. 

“Mayor Duterte and Sen. Marcos are talking, and whatever decision they make the party will abide by it,” the source said.

“Sen. Bongbong will be a healing and unifying leader of the country,” Lozano said.– With Perseus Echeminada