Sara Duterte-Carpio, 43, who is seeking the vice-presidency announced in a video message her intent to run on the same ticket as Marcos, the son and namesake of the late dictator who was toppled in a 1986 uprising.

“My party allied with and asked for support for Bongbong Marcos and for me after I accepted your challenge and your call,” Duterte-Carpio said, referring to 64-year-old Marcos by his nickname.

Christina Garcia-Frasco, her spokesperson, separately confirmed to Reuters her decision. A spokesperson for Marcos did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Marcos, who belongs to a different political party, earlier said he wanted Duterte-Carpio to be his running mate.

In the Philippines, the president and vice-president are elected separately.

The alliance would be formidable and a boon for both campaigns, analysts have said, with Marcos able to tap the huge support base of the Dutertes in the south, and Duterte-Carpio likely to gain from the Marcos dynasty’s decades of dominance in its northern stronghold.

Experts say Marcos has emerged as the frontrunner due to Duterte-Carpio’s decision not to run against him, after she led opinion polls on preferred presidential candidates throughout the year.