The son of detained Marine Col.Ariel Querubin Sunday said his father is banking on the financial support of his friends and followers to fund his campaign for the May 2010 senatorial race.

Martin Querubin said his father, who isly under detention at the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, while facing charges of rebellion before the Makati Regional Trial Court, is determined to run for the senatorial derby next year.

“Over the issue of (campaign) funds, we believe that our countrymen, including many well-meaning friends and other patriotic Filipinos who believe in him (Colonel Querubin), will help us in the campaign,” Martin said in a radio interview.radio.

The younger Querubin cited as example the case of former Navy lieutenant senior grade and now Senator Antonio Trillanes IV who, he said, survived the campaign period for the May, 2007 elections through the financial support of friends and followers, despite his detention, also on rebellion charges.

Martin recalled that his mother, Maria Flor, and their children helped in the campaign of Trillanes, who was tagged as the leader of the Magdalo rebel group, to ensure the victory of the former Navy officer in the senatorial elections two years ago.

However, Trillanes, despite his victory in the senatorial race, was not allowed by the Makati Regional Trial Court to physically attend the proceedings at the Senate while waiting for the promulgation of his rebellion case.

While admitting that the entire Querubin family initially dissuaded Ariel to throw his hat in the political arena which they considered as “dirty and problem-ridden,” Martin claimed that the former Marine officer was inspired by the victory of Barack Obama who won the US presidential race in2008 with people’s support in funding his campaign.