Former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has said his British-educated eldest son, Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos, is very much qualified to run for a congressional district in Ilocos Norte and has been learning a lot about Congress’ legislative mill under the guidance of House Majority Leader and Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin G. Romualdez.
Marcos said his cousin, Romualdez has been playing a powerful role in mentoring Sandro regarding the daily grind of working at the House of Representatives, including strategies to expedite the passage of President Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte and House leadership’s priority measures.
“He has learned a lot. I told him if you continue as a congressman, you are very qualified. You are more qualified than other newcomers who have not gone through that. He is interested [in running],” Marcos, a former congressman and governor of Ilocos Norte, told “Tapatan ni Tunying” on YouTube hosted by veteran television and radio host Anthony Taberna.
“For the last two years, Sandro has been working in the office of the Majority Floor Leader in the House of Representatives. His boss is Cong. Martin, Majo or Congressman Martin Romualdez. I asked him if he has learned a lot? He said I already know the operation here and I already know how the different styles of congressmen are,” Marcos recalled.
While Sandro has yet to make his final decision to join the political arena, Marcos said he and his nephew, Ilocos Norte Gov. Matthew Marcos Manotoc, son of Senator Imee Marcos, have been helping Sandro about the dynamics of local politics.
“He seems to be thinking carefully and he is really looking at whether he can run in the coming election. He can run as a congressman in the 1st District of Ilocos Norte,” Marcos said.
“Although he hasn’t finalized yet, he’s already circling around and he’s looking at the district. Of course, I was there and his cousin, Governor Manotoc, was there, and at least we were guiding him,” he added.
Marcos said he is very proud of Sandro who earned his master’s degree in Development Studies from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
“Yes, it so happened that his masters are developmental economics, so I said it is appropriate for him to teach us all to make a plan after COVID (coronavirus disease-19) because our economics are obsolete. He just graduated a few years ago, I read all his books and I also read all his essays,” Marcos admitted.
Sandro is the eldest of three sons of Marcos and lawyer Louise “Liza” Araneta Marcos.
He is the grandson of the late President Ferdinand Marcos and former First Lady and Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Romualdez-Marcos.