Rep. Imelda Marcos sits with a book in her hands during the launch of their product, “Imeldifique” cooking wines, at a restaurant in Quezon City on Tuesday. The Marcoses are trying to solidify their return to power, with Sen. Bongbong Marcos running for vice president in the May 2016 elections.(MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) – Senator and vice-presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr dished out some “brotherly advice” to Senator Grace Poe after the poll body’s 2nd division disqualified her from running in the 2016 presidential election.
“Keep going…keep going. Huwag kang (Poe) panghihinaan ng loob and just know that when you are doing the right thing, you will in the end succeed,” Marcos told reporters Tuesday night when asked if he had advice for Poe.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) 2nd Division earlier ruled Poe could not run for president in May 2016 because she fails to meet the 10-year residency requirement.
The Comelec decision is a response to a disqualification case filed by lawyer Estrella Elamparo, who claimed that Poe misrepresented herself in stating that she has the 10-year residency requirement to run for president.
Poe said she is disappointed with the decision but noted “this is not the end of the process.”
“We will continue to fight for the rights of foundlings and the fundamental right of the people to choose their leaders,” said Poe.
Poe’s spokesman, Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian, said they will exhaust all legal remedies to prove that Poe is qualified to seek the presidency.
“She’s been with the country since 2005, she has more than sufficiently met the residency requirement,” said Gatchalian.
In a press statement, Marcos said he was not surprised by the verdict. He added it is still a long way to go before the issue would be finally settled as Poe’s camp has announced that it would appeal the decision before the Comelec en banc.
“Mahaba pa ang proseso at antayin natin…we leave it to the best of our legal minds to decide exactly what to do,” he said.
Asked if the Comelec decision should alarm the opposition, Marcos said it is expected and it is part of the black propaganda normally being employed by different groups.
“Hindi naman bago ito at alam naman natin na maraming iba diyan na imbes na itinataas nila ang kanilang kandidato, ginigiba nila ‘yung iba,” he noted.
Marcos is running against several vice-presidential candidates in the 2016 polls including Sen. Francis Escudero, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, Sen. Gregorio Honasan, Congresswoman Leni Robredo and Sen. Antonio Trillanes. (MNS)