Sara Duterte could still be Philippine president, admits Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jnr amid ‘worry’ over disqualification
- Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jnr is the clear front runner in opinion polls ahead of the May 9 presidential election, but could be disqualified
- The Commission on Elections is still mulling demands he be banned from office, while the Supreme Court and even Rodrigo Duterte may put further hurdles in his way
Even as the official campaign period for the Philippine presidential election gets under way, a large question mark hangs over whether front runner Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jnr will even be eligible for office.
Of the 10 candidates who will start campaigning on Tuesday for the May 9 election, Marcos Jnr is the clear favourite and has been since December according to presidential surveys.
Only five of the contenders on the printed ballot are even considered serious contenders – Marcos, Leni Robredo (the current vice-president), Isko Moreno Domagoso (the Manila mayor), Senator Panfilo Lacson and former boxer-turned-Senator Manny Pacquiao. Beyond that, most analysts believe the contest will most probably boil down to a two-way race between Marcos and Robredo.
Yet there is a fundamental uncertainty surrounding Marcos’ bid, with the front runner admitting at the weekend to being “worried” that unresolved cases at The Commission on Elections demanding his disqualification could yet scupper his chances.
“Of course [I worry about that],” Marcos said. “I take everything seriously. I worry about everything. But I do not let it distract me from the campaign.”