(UPDATED) Former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Tuesday, October 5, 2021, announced his intention to run for president in the May 2022 elections.

In his speech that was livestreamed on his Facebook page, Marcos said a "unifying leadership" is needed to bring the country through and beyond the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

"I know that it is this manner of unifying leadership that can lead us through this crisis, get our people safely back to work, for all of us to begin to live our lives once again. And that is why I am announcing my intention to run for the presidency of the Philippines," he declared.

"I will bring that form of unifying leadership back to our country. Hangad ko'ng ibalik ang mapagkaisang paglilingkod na magbubuklod sa ating bansa. Tayo'y magkaisa at sama-sama tayong babangon mula sa hagupit ng pandemya, babangon mula sa paglulugmok ng ating ekonomiya," he added.

Earlier Tuesday, he transferred to the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) political party and took his oath as the PFP’s chairman during its third anniversary.

Marcos, son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, had been a member of the Nacionalista Party since 2010.

He then led the blessing and inauguration of his national campaign headquarters in Mandaluyong City.

The PFP endorsed Marcos as its standard bearer during its national convention in Tupi, South Cotabato on September 20.

The Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL), Labor Party of the Philippines, and Kapisanan ng Pamilyang Pilipino have also nominated Marcos as presidential candidate for the May 2022 elections. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo / SunStar Philippines)