BONGBONG FILES CERTIFICATE OF CANDIDACY FOR VICE PRESIDENT; VOWS TO WAGE 'REVOLUTION' FOR UNITY AND CHANGE

SENATOR Ferdinand "Bongbong" R. Marcos Jr. today filed his certificate of candidacy for vice president in the May 2016 elections at the main office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Intramuros, Manila.

In a statement, Marcos said this marked the beginning of his fight to eradicate poverty, clean the streets of illegal drugs and other vices and crimes, eliminate graft and corruption in the government, boost the economy, and unite the Filipino people in nation-building for a progressive society.

Marcos, accompanied by his family and several supporters, walked to the Comelec after he prayed at the San Agustin Church.

Last Saturday (October 10), he formally proclaimed his vice presidential bid and vowed to wage a "revolution" for unity and change for a better Philippines.

"Sa tulong ninyo at ng bayan, pamumunuan ko ang isang rebolusyon sa puso, isip at gawa tungo sa isang tunay at makabuluhang pagbabago. Pamumunuan ko rin ang isang kampanya upang makamit natin ang ating mga pangarap sa buhay. Hindi ako makapapayag na mawala sa atin ang ilang bahagi ng ating bansa. Ipaglalaban ko ang integridad ng ating bayan," he said in a speech.

He said that in his 30 years in public service, he had seen the sufferings of the people and the inability of the government to extract families from abject poverty, selective justice, and blatant connivance of corrupt government officials and greedy private individuals to siphon off the country's wealth.

"Hanggang ngayon, naghihintay pa rin ang taumbayan attumitingin at umaasa sa ating mga lider na may gawin upang mabawasan man lang ang kanilang dinaranas na hirap at panganib. Wala pa tayong naririnig na sagot. Ingay lamang ng mga opisyal na nag-uunahan sa pwesto...Ingay lamang ng mga nang-aabuso at nagnanakaw sa kaban ng bayan," Marcos said.

Marcos is an incumbent senator who was elected in 2010, placing 7th overall. He currently chairs the Senate Committee on Local Government and the Committee on Public Works.

He had also served as vice governor, governor and congressman of Ilocos Norte.