Former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos yesterday said his plans to seek a national position in 2022 remain open, including running as Vice President in tandem with Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.

“I want to maintain my presence in the national level,” Marcos said Friday in a forum organized by the National Press Club of the Philippines.

“Wala akong dini-discount, wala akong sinasabing hindi puwede [tumakbong vice president]. Depende sa sitwasyon.”

“In my heart of hearts, I have a preference, but we will see,” Marcos told the forum.

“Until it is clear what it is they intend to do, it is very hard to respond, it is very hard to speculate,” he said.

Marcos met Duterte-Carpio in her Davao hometown in late May. Although the meeting was a social gathering and that plans for the 2022 national elections were not discussed.

Senator Imee Marcos said “BBM (Bongbong Marcos) and I went to greet her an early happy birthday.”

“Atty. Mans (Manases Carpio), her hubby, treated us to lunch,” she said.

The senator said there were no discussions about a possible Duterte-Marcos tandem for the presidential and vice presidential race next year.

“Nah, walang pulitika (No, there was no politics involved),” she said.

In February, Marcos Jr.’s lawyer said the former lawmaker will “definitely” vie for a public post next year.

“He will definitely be running for 2022,” lawyer Vic Rodriguez said in an interview.

Last year, Sen. Marcos said his brother is still on a “wait and see” mode as there seems to be a “stampede” of candidates in the 2022 national elections.

“Yung posisyon, di ko alam kasi di pa kami nag-uusap… [Pero] Alam ko tatakbo siya kasi unemployed siya. Luto na lang nang luto, blog nang blog,” Sen. Marcos told Senate reporters.

(What position, I do not know yet because we haven’t spoken… But I know he will run because he is unemployed. He just cooks a lot and blogs a lot.)

Earlier, Marcos ran for vice president in 2016. He lost to Robredo, then filed an electoral protest after alleging that electoral fraud took place in some areas.

In February, after more than five years, the Supreme Court voted unanimously to junk his electoral protest.