Vice Presidency Also Will Be Contested, Marcos Says

President Ferdinand E. Marcos today backtracked from earlier statements and said the vice presidency, vacant for 13 years, will also be contested in presidential elections he abruptly set for January.

In another development, Marcos said he would not stage an election by decree.

“We will throw everything to Batasan Pambansa (parliament) and it is up to Batasan to decide whether to hold the special election or not,” a presidential palace statement said.

The statement said the moribund vice presidency would be revived if parliament, which is controlled by Marcos’ ruling party, decides on an election. Marcos had declared Monday that he would face the voters alone because “the issue is Marcos.”

Today’s palace statement quoted the 68-year-old Philippine ruler as saying, “The stability of government through the succession mechanism can only be established if there is a vice president, which will in turn ensure the stability of the republic.”

Marcos did not name a running mate.

The president’s new stance followed scathing criticism by the opposition, which accused him of bending the rules to stay in office during the 60-day campaign.

Under the constitution, a special presidential election can only be held if the office becomes vacant.

Today’s statement said Marcos “has decided not to issue a special decree that will govern the elections.”

Foes Express Doubt

It did not say if Marcos would resign if the National Assembly approved his plan for the election without first proposing a constitutional amendment allowing him to remain in office.

Opposition leaders expressed doubt over whether an election could be held in January if such an amendment was approved and subjected to a national plebiscite, which they said the constitution requires.

On the question of the vice presidency the palace statement said, “It was widely believed the vice president would be elected along with the local officials in the scheduled elections in May, 1986, since the issue for the special polls in January would be Marcos alone.”

“It is now apparent that the complexion has changed from Marcos to that of his entire administration and his entire program of government.”

Marcos abolished the position of vice president when he imposed eight years of martial rule in 1972.

If an election is held, Marcos’s opponents appear likely to be UNIDO leader Salvador Laurel, a former senator, and Corazon Aquino, widow of slain Marcos foe Benigno Aquino, an emotional favorite but a political novice.