Former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. has stepped up moves to consolidate his political stocks following recent results of pre-election surveys ranking him second in preference among 15 presidentiables.
While a sizable number of influential politicians and political alliances have been urging the former senator to join next year’s presidential race, Marcos, who asked to be identified only as “Citizen Bongbong,” has yet to officially declare as to what position he would run in the coming 2022 polls.
However, Marcos indicated recently that he would consider running for president in the 2022 election only if “there is a developing critical mass behind my candidacy.”
“If there is enough support for me… and if there are candidates, from vice presidents and senators down to congressmen and local government bets that will support and run alongside with me… then I might consider vying for the presidency,” the former senator said.
Marcos attributed his high rating in recent pre-poll surveys to the trust and confidence of the voting public to his name and record as a public servant.
He admitted his plans to make the rounds among his grassroots supporters to validate if his encouraging numbers in recent surveys are true.
For one, OCTA Research released the other day the results of its survey for the presidency which showed Marcos in second place with 14 percent preference among 15 presidentiables.
Earlier surveys of Pulse Asia and Publicus Asia, Inc. have also ranked the former senator in second place to presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.
Late last month, an alliance of strong political leaders in the provinces north of Luzon pledged united support for Marcos as they urged him to run for president in next year’s elections.
Led by League of Municipalities President and Narvacan, Ilocos Sur Mayor Chavit Singson and Isabela Gov. Rodito Albano, dozens of congressmen and elected local government officials comprising the so-called Solid North have met with the former senator in a pre-SONA “merienda” arranged by his sister, Senator Imee Marcos.