Son of late Philippines dictator Ferdinand Marcos seeks senate seat

Manila - Congressman Ferdinand Marcos Junior, son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, on Saturday filed his certificate of candidacy for senator in next year's elections. It will be the second attempt of a Marcos scion to seek a national post since Imelda Marcos, the widow of the late dictator, lost her presidential bid in 1992.

The Marcoses and their associates were forced into exile in Hawaii in February 1986 after they were chased out of the country by a mass of protesters in a four-day bloodless uprising led by the late democracy icon and former president Corazon Aquino.

Bongbong, as Marcos Junior is called, said he believes that he can greatly contribute as a senator in providing a leadership that will uplift the lives of the country's impoverished millions.

He vowed to push for reforms in education and economy and to fight graft and corruption.

Bongbong claims that being a son of a dictator is not disadvantageous to his bid.

"There seems to be this assumption that my name is becoming a hindrance," he said. "I am proud and I feel very lucky to be a Marcos. The fact that my name is Ferdinand Marcos has been nothing but advantageous to my entire political career. I consider myself to be lucky to be born out of a remarkable parents and public servants."

The young Marcos is running under the ticket of Nacionalista Party whose presidential bet is real-estate magnate Manuel Villar. Villar was expected to file his certificate of candidacy on Monday.