Ahead of Bongbong's Decision, Marcos From Tarlac Files Candidacy for President
Another Marcos filed her candidacy for president Tuesday as former Sen. Bongbong Marcos, the heir of his late strongman father, kept the public waiting on his plans for the 2022 elections.
Maria Aurora Marcos, a Tarlac native who grew up in Pampanga, is the second Marcos to formalize her intention to seek the presidency after a certain Tiburcio Marcos filed his certificate of candidacy for the same position on Sunday.
Although her affiliation with the Marcoses is unclear, Maria Aurora praised the late dictator's presidency.
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"Don't lose hope as long as there is the legacy of the late President Ferdinand Marcos to be remembered," she said as she enumerated her plan of government, which includes ensuring health security and eradicating corruption.
"Maaaring wala [akong] sapat na exposure sa panunungkulan sa gobyerno pero sapat ang kaalaman at adhikain kung paano mapaunlad ang kabuhayan at maibalik ang ating bansa kung saan ito dapat na kinalalagayan sa community of nations," she added.
Maria Aurora said she would not back out from the race should Bongbong himself also run for president.
"Hindi ito paglalaban kundi pagtulungan ang taumbayan sa bansa natin ng kaunlaran at katahimikan ng ating bansa. Wala akong ilalaban dahil pare-pareho lang kaming nangangandidato," she said.
Bongbong placed second in the list of the preferred presidential candidates, only after Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, in the September 2021 survey of Pulse Asia.
He was recently nominated by his father's party, Kilusang Bagong Lipunan, as their standard bearer for the 2022 elections.
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