Bongbong Marcos confirms he'll be Erap's guest senatorial bet

The son and namesake of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos will run for senator in the 2010 elections as a guest candidate of former President Joseph Estrada, the United Opposition's standard-bearer. "I am a guest candidate of President Erap," Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand Emmanuel "Bongbong" Marcos said in a text message sent to GMANews.TV on Tuesday. In a separate statement, the 52-year-old Marcos advised Estrada to ensure his victory in the polls by matching Sen. Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino's star-studded campaign. "Erap should start securing the support of his showbiz friends. Even if we say that voters are intelligent nowadays, showbiz personalities still have use for other candidates," said Marcos. Marcos made the unsolicited advice after Aquino's television advertisement featuring major showbiz personalities from rival television networks, GMA and ABS-CBN, started airing late last week. The ad featured GMA 7's Regine Velasquez, Ogie Alcasid, Ding-Dong Dantes, and Marian Rivera. ABS-CBN stars in the ad, meanwhile, included Kris, Sharon Cuneta, Boy Abunda, and Ai-Ai Delas Alas. Delas Alas is Estrada's co-star in the movie "Ang Tanging Pamilya: A Merry-Go-Round," which will hit theaters this month. The congressman said Estrada, a movie actor-turned-politician, should ensure his celebrity friends' support for his candidacy the way Aquino's sister, Kris, had been gathering support for her brother. “I think Erap also needs to seek the help of showbiz writers. The combined support of the artists and entertainment media can be a great help to his reelection bid," Marcos said, adding that he believes that Estrada continues to enjoy the support of many personalities in the entertainment industry. Marcos' father was the bitter political rival of Noynoy's father, martyred Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino Jr. The late strongman was replaced by Noynoy's mother, Corazon Aquino through the "People Power" uprising in 1986. - GMANews.TV