SEN. BONGBONG MARCOS WOULD BE HONORED TO SERVE
IN DUTERTE ADMINISTRATION

Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" R. Marcos Jr. today declared he would be honored to serve in the incoming Administration of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte if given a chance to do so.

Speaking to reporters in a press conference at Anabel's Restaurant in Quezon City, Marcos said he would be honored if he is given a position in the Duterte Administration but he was quick to add that no position has been offered to him.

"You know, I am at heart a public servant and if I am called to duty in any way whatsoever it is an honor for me to serve, in any capacity wherein this coming government, the incoming President will feel that I can contribute, I will be happy to do that," Marcos expressed.

Asked for details of his more than three-hour meeting with Duterte in Davao City early Friday, Marcos said his role in the incoming Administration was only discussed "in a general way" because it was not the reason for the meeting.

He said he decided to meet the incoming President to personally thank him for his support to his family especially his statement on finally allowing the burial of his father, the late President Ferdinand Marcos, at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

"In a very general way (the discussion on his possible position) dahil hindi naman yun ang sadya ko. Ako'y pumunta roon para nga sabihin na nagpapasalamat ang pamilya ko, nagpapasalamat ako sa kanyang mga sinasabi sa akin at nagpapasalamat ang pamilya tungkol nga sa statement nya na ililibing ang aking ama sa Libingan ng mga Bayani," he said.

The details of the planned burial were also not discussed during the meeting saying it was up to the incoming Chief Executive and his family to do so. "In principle lang," Marcos clarified.

He also expressed the belief that burying his father at the Libingan ng Bayani will bring closure to partisan politics rather than cause division. "I think it will bring closure not only to my family but to the rest of the country. This is something that has somehow been in the consciousness of the Filipino people, a continuing partisan exchange that has been going on for over 30 years which can finally be put to rest. And I think that that is the significance of the statement of incoming Pres. Duterte."

He also denied there were talks on a Cabinet position for him saying they discussed about the Mayor's plans to solve the drug problem. "Sinasabi nga niya kung ano yung mga plano nya, he was explaining again his position, his very strong position against the drug problem in the Philippines at talagang yun ang kanyang pinaprioritize," he said.

Marcos also assured the President-elect that he will not get affected by the electoral protest he will file at the end of the month. "Ang pinag-usapan lang namin ay...actually itong inire-report ko sa kanya itong plano ko, ika ko we have made sure na itong protesta na gagawin namin ay hindi ka maaapektuhan in any way, number one. E baka sabihin niya e basta't sinisira namin lahat e pati yung kanya ay madadamay. I assured him that that is not the case," he said.

Answering a question if he got an impression from Duterte that he believed that he was cheated, Marcos stated that while the President-elect did not categorically make a pronouncement on the matter, he did agree that there was cheating.

"Put it this way--he never said anything like that but he said "I know there was cheating". That's as far as he went: "I know there was cheating," Marcosconcluded.