Imee Marcos says she’s still independent Senate bet

‘I’m still independent,’ Imee Marcos insists after joining admin rallies
   

MANILA, Philippines— Sen. Imee Marcos said she remains an independent candidate despite her presence in some of the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas rallies backed by her brother, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr.

The presidential sister was part of the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas slate until she announced her withdrawal  from it  last September.

She, however joined the administration bets when they  kicked off their campaign  at the Marcoses’ bailiwick in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte on February 12.

“Ganun pa din, independent pa rin ako (I’m still an independent candidate),”  Sen.  Marcos said in  press briefing  in the Senate.

“Ako nagkalaro lang ako sa Alyansa na hahayaan ako magsalita ng gusto ko at hindi sang-ayon ako sa lahat ng nasasabi sa entablado pero pupunta ako lalo na’t  mga kaibigan nga  yung nagho-host ng iba’t-ibang rally,”  she added. 

(I just clarified to Alyansa that I will be allowed to speak my mind and that I don’t agree with everything said on stage, but I will still attend, especially since my friends are the ones hosting the rallies)

She was also at Alyansa’s rally in Iloilo  last February 13.

According to her,  getting the endorsement  of her brother is important in her reelection bid in the May 2025 senatorial race.

“Well, definitely importante pagkat pamilya kami, magkapatid kami,” she  said.

(Well, it’s definitely important because we are family, we are siblings.)

 “So sa kabila ng aking pagtutunggali sa ibang polisiya e hindi naman kami nag-aaway kailanman  kaya’t suportado ko naman  siya lagi at inaasahan  kong magiging matagumpay ang kanyang administrasyon,” she further said. 

(So despite our disagreements over some policies, we never fight, and I always support him. I expect his administration to be successful.)

But she turned sentimental when asked about  the President’s wish  to have a 12-0  victory in favor of his senatorial bets, noting that she has also friends from other camps.

Among them are senators Christopher “Bong” Go and Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa who were with her during the 2019 midterm elections, according to her.

“Marami tayong kaibigan magkabila e di ba  kaya nga naging  independent dahil hindi ko gusto  yugn birada kung minsan.  Nasasaktan ako sa magkabilang birahan,” Sen. Imee said.

 (We have many friends on both sides, right? That’s why I became independent because I don’t like the criticism sometimes. It hurts me from both sides.)

She said her  wish is for her fellow candidates to present their platforms to the public  instead of engaging in a toxic campaign.