I called a press conference to announce the filing of my candidacy as official UNIDO candidate for the presidency.
In my statement I said: “I can sacrifice myself. I can sacrifice the presidency. But I cannot sacrifice my party and principles. I cannot sacrifice my party and principles. I cannot sacrifice the people who have suffered so much and worked so hard all these years, risking life, liberty and even honor, to put up the political machine that is now capable of toppling the Marcos dictatorship.”
That same afternoon I filed my certificate of candidacy with COMELEC.
Telegrams and long distance calls from all over the country poured in expressing support for my candidacy.