MANILA, Philippines — Political vlogger Marc Gamboa is trying his luck in politics as he formalized his desire to run for senator on Tuesday.
In black jeans and red Air Jordan 1, Gamboa went to Manila Hotel’s Tent City to file his certificate of candidacy (COC) for senator.
Speaking to reporters in an ambush interview, Gamboa said he intends to push for a law that would create an office that would monitor fake news 24/7 should he be elected senator.
“Aside from support sa mga online seller, mga content creator, gusto po natin na magtayo ng 24/7 na magmo-monitor sa mga fake news,” he said.
(Aside from supporting online sellers and content creators, we want to establish a 24/7 office that would monitor fake news.)
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“Napakalaking problema po niyan. Sa ngayon po walang nagmo-monitor so ‘yan po ang isa sa mga unang gagawin natin. Magtatayo po tayo ng 24/7 na office kung saan puwedeng mag-report at isumbong ang mga fake news,” he added.
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(That’s a big problem. Currently, there’s no one monitoring it so that’s one of the very first things that we will do. We will create a 24/7 office where people may report fake news.)
Gamboa said his primary motivation to run for senator is his countrymen’s frustration over politicians.
“Yung mga kababayan po natin nafu-frustrate [dahil] may mga politiko, although may mga nagagawa naman po silang maganda, may mga politiko na feeling nila ay sinungaling, na hindi po sinasabi ‘yung totoo sa kanila, na hindi sila pinapakinggan. Yun po ang gusto nating baguhin,” he explained.
(Our countrymen are frustrated because there are politicians, although they help sometimes, whom people feel are only lying and not listening to the people. That’s what we want to change.)
Asked what his edge is, he said it is his “youth” that makes him more familiar with the problems of Millennials and Gen Zs.
October 1 marks the first day of COC filing for the 2025 polls. The filing will run until October 8. 2024.