Bongbong seventh to file COC for vice president

MANILA, Philippines - Will it be a lucky 7 or an unlucky 13 for Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.?

While many candidates shied away from filing their certificate of candidacy (COC) yesterday because it was the 13th – many consider the number unlucky – Marcos still opted to file his COC for vice president.

He was listed as the 7th candidate in the Commission on Elections (Comelec) registry for the post.

“I was told that I am the seventh person to file (for vice president) so number 7, as the lucky number for the Marcoses, is still there. I think that’s a good omen,” he told reporters after signing the Comelec’s Integrity Pledge for free, orderly, honest, peaceful and credible elections.

The senator, clad in blue shirt and jeans, arrived at the Comelec main office at around 1:30 p.m. and was accompanied by his wife Liza. Former first lady Imelda Marcos, who earlier expressed disappointment that her only son chose not to seek the presidency, also came with him but did not enter the building.

While the lawmaker was filing his COC, about 100 supporters wearing red and orange shirts waited outside the Comelec and watched the process through a monitor. They cheered, clapped their hands and chanted “Bongbong” as they listened to his speech before the media. Some Comelec employees lined the hallway to see the senator in person.

In a statement, Marcos said he sees no problem working with whoever is elected president next year. 

“I don’t think I’ll have any problem working with any of the presidential candidates or prospective presidential candidates. But in terms of a working relationship, I’m sure there’s no one that I cannot work with. That’s just not part of my thinking,” he noted as he acknowledged there may be times when he and the new president would have different positions on certain policies.

As part of the executive department, he said the vice president must provide support and assistance to the president. “But of course you can also try to influence policy in ways you see best.”

“Adversarial politics is fine until the elections are over. Once the elections are over, we really must put all that aside and work for the national interest – not partisan interest, not individual interest, but the national interest,” Marcos added. – With Sheila Crisostomo