Imee Marcos, 3 other admin Senate bets skip rally in Duterte bailiwick
Senator Imee Marcos answers queries from the media during an ambush interview on the sideline of the Liga ng mga Barangay Leyte Provincial Chapter Annual Provincial Congress, which she attended as a guest of honor and speaker in Pasay City in this file photo taken on June 18, 2024. INQUIRER.net / NOY MORCOSO
DAVAO DEL NORTE – Presidential sister and Senate reelectionist Imee Marcos, along with three other senatorial hopefuls under the administration bloc, skipped a rally held here, a province considered to be one of the bailiwicks of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Aside from Sen. Marcos, those who skipped the rally were Sen. Pia Cayetano, former Sen. Panfilo Lacson and Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar.
The administration kicked off the Mindanao leg of its campaign here, attended by Senate reelectionists Lito Lapid, Bong Revilla, and Francis Tolentino; former senators Vicente Sotto III, Panfilo Lacson, and Manny Pacquiao; ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo; former Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos; and Makati City mayor Abby Binay.
Alyansa’s proclamation rally kicked off in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte last Feb. 11, marking the start of the 90-day campaign period.
Marcos, who led the alliance’s proclamation rally, unleashed a thinly-veiled salvo of attacks on Duterte during his speech there.
The Chief Executive, who made a pitch for the 12-member Alyansa, said they are not “tainted by the blood” of drug war which killed thousands, did not profess pro-China and pro-Philippine offshore gaming operators sentiments, among other social ills, as opposed to the nine-man slate backed by the former president.
READ: Marcos on admin slate: They’re not tainted by tokhang, Pogo, pro-China
Before this event, Marcos also led the second leg of the administration bloc’s sortie in Iloilo City on Friday where he also repeated such strong remarks against Duterte.
READ: Rep. Marcos on signing Sara Duterte impeach rap first: No surprise
It remains to be seen if Marcos would reiterate his tirades against Duterte here in the province which is part of his stronghold.
Once allies during the 2022 polls, the political families Marcos and Duterte have been embroiled in a tussle marked by the vice president’s resignation in the present administration’s Cabinet as education secretary in June last year.READ: Marcos to Iloilo execs: Coordinate with national gov’t in infra projects
READ: Marcos to Iloilo execs: Coordinate with national gov’t in infra projects
The feud has since escalated, with Duterte revealing that she allegedly instructed someone to kill Marcos, his wife Liza, and cousin Romualdez if she would be killed.
Duterte’s remarks was used as one of the reasons behind her impeachment complaint, first signed by Presidential son and Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos.
Marcos said his move was prompted by the vice president’s threats to his family and her remarks to dig up late president Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s remains before throwing it to the West Philippine Sea.
