Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is the candidate to beat in the vice presidential race, Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo, the vice presidential candidate of the Liberal Party (LP), admitted on Monday.
“I would say yes, he’s the one to beat. If you look at his numbers, they are steadily rising. The rise is not the same for Senator [Francis] Chiz [Escudero] because he has been up early because of popularity and his numbers are going down,” Robredo told reporters.
The latest Pulse Asia survey showed Escudero ahead with 29 percent, followed by Marcos with 26 percent. Robredo ranked third with 19 percent.
“I believe that he [Bongbong] is a formidable opponent because he has vast resources at his disposal. There’s air and ground support. It is difficult to match such huge war chest,” Robredo, wife of former Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, added.
Marcos’ mother, Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos is the second richest member of the House of Representatives with a P922.8 million net worth as of 2014, just behind eight-time world boxing champion and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao who listed a net worth of P1.35 billion.
Marcos Jr., on the other hand, is the third richest senator with a net worth of P197.47 million.
As of 2014, Robredo’s net worth was P8 million.
But despite the Marcoses’ overwhelming wealth, Robredo is not about to wave the white flag.
“In all of what I have been through, I am convinced that money is not the most important thing in this election,” she said, recalling her unprecedented victory over Nelly Villafuerte in the 2013 congressional race.