Marcos not leaving party to run for VP

CEBU, Philippines - Saying he cannot imagine the circumstances that would make him leave the Nacionalista Party, Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.  said he so far has not received any invitation to transfer to another political party.

This was his answer to speculations that he may run for vice president in the 2016 elections as runningmate of Vice President Jejomar Binay, who is eyeing the presidency under the United Nationalist Alliance.

"Suwerte ako na lahat ng options nasa akin. It is an important decision that needs to be thought of properly. Pag-isipan (ko ito) ng mabuti; hindi naman puwede na pabigla-bigla lang.  Maraming talks but none of these have been decided by anyone," he said.

Marcos, who was here in Cebu to visit the wake of the mother of broadcaster Choy Torralba Tuesday night, said everything is still speculation, including the Binay-Marcos or the Marcos-Duterte or Duterte-Marcos tandem in the 2016 elections.

He admitted, though, that there is constant discussion among potential candidates and with other groups or political parties to determine what is good for the Nacionalista Party and what is good for him.

In another issue, Marcos, author of the Senate version of the law that created Cebu's seventh district, said he would not be surprised if former third district congressman Pablo John Garcia will run for Congress in the new district.

"I am not surprised na siya ang babalik. That is expected," he said.

The second district currently has 15 towns and 284 barangays with a population of 423,452, based on the May 2010 census.

With the passage of the law, the towns of Dumanjug, Ronda, Alcantara, Moalboal, Badian, Alegria, Malabuyoc, and Ginatilan now compose the new district while Argao, Dalaguete, Alcoy, Boljoon, Oslob, Santander, and Samboan will remain with second district. — (FREEMAN)