Former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr said Thursday he would pursue his candidacy for president, even with the possibility of going against Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.
The only son and namesake of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos said running for president was always the plan and that he was in the race "not to play any of those substitution."
"Examine my situation. I have nowhere else to go. I will not change parties," he said in an interview with reporters, a video of which was posted on Faebook by radio DZRH. "I entered so that I can run for president and that's what I did".
Substitution is the only recourse of Duterte-Carpio should she decide to run for a national position after dropping her reelection bid. She quit her own Hugpong ng Pagbabago party on Thursday and is at a close ally's birthday party in Balesin Island.
Duterte-Carpio can't use Hugpong as a vehicle for the presidency or vice presidency since it is a regional party. Her father, President Rodrigo Duterte's PDP-Laban and ex-President Gloria Arroyo's Lakas-CMD have said that their presidential bets are open for substitution.
Marcos said any comment on Duterte-Carpio's next move at this point would be speculation.
"This is Philippine poltics. Eveyrthing is possible even at the last absolute minute," he said.
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