GOV. IMEE MARCOS THANKS SUPPORTERS

Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos has filed before the Commission on Elections her certificate of candidacy for senator, vowing to work for the upliftment of the poor and to represent local government units in the Senate. She was accompanied by her three sons, mother Ilocos Norte 2nd District Rep. Imelda Marcos, and brother former Sen. Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr., will run for senator under the Nacionalista Party.

The eldest daughter of the late Pres. Ferdinand Marcos, her sons and brother, entered the Comelec office in Intramuros, Manila amid shouts and chants of supporters wearing red shirts and bearing banners and posters who gathered in the area earlier Tuesday.

Former members of Kabataang Barangay (KB), the national youth organization which she headed in the 70s and 80s, came in full force as well. "I sincerely thank my family and friends for their show of support," she said, noting that the KB network is behind her drive to touch base with the masses.

Ms. Marcos forged a coalition with Presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio's Hugpong ng Pagbabago regional political party and Sen. Cynthia Villar of the Nacionalista party. The eldest daughter of Pres. Rodrigo Duterte is openly supporting Ms. Marcos' bid to run for senator.

The lady governor said she will work for the suspension of the value-added tax that has sent prices of consumer goods skyrocketing and vowed all-out support for farmers and agricultural workers. She added that the poor spend 60% of their income on food and the high prices of prime commodities are hurting them more.

One of her proposals is for local government units to buy directly from farmers and sell the supply to the public at markedly lower rates similar to what the Kadiwa stores she set up in Ilocos Norte are doing. A recent Pulse Asia survey ranked Ms. Marcos 8th among probable candidates likely to win in the May 2019 midterm elections, up 6 notches from 14th place in a June survey.