Alyansa to Sen. Imee Marcos: Good luck

Sen. Imee R. Marcos (Bibo Nueva España/Senate PRIB)

MANILA, Philippines — The Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas is wishing reelectionist Sen. Imee Marcos luck in her independent campaign.

The message was relayed by Alyansa’s Campaign Manager , Navotas City Rep. Toby Tiagco to reporters after Sen. Marcos confirmed her withdrawal from the slate.

“We respect Sen. Imee’s decision. We wish her luck in the campaign,” said Tiangco in a text message.

Sen. Marcos on Wednesday officially withdrew from Marcos administration-backed senatorial slate.

The development came days after the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

In a statement on Wednesday, Sen. Marcos said she can no longer stand on the same platform as the rest of the Alyansa senatoriables.

”I cannot stand on the same campaign platform as the rest of the Alyansa. As I have stated from the outset of the election period, I will continue to maintain my independence,” she said.

Rumors of an alleged rift between President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos and Sen. Marcos surfaced  came after the latter decided to distance herself from the administration-backed Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas.

According to Sen. Marcos, she will be skipping the administration slate’s campaign rallies for the meantime, noting that she wants to focus instead on the case of a Filipino surrendered by the Philippine government to a foreign institution.

She said this is not only about former president Duterte, but the Philippine sovereignty.

In a seemingly bold response, President Marcos has stopped mentioning his older sister in campaign sorties: the first one being in Cavite and the second in Laguna.

President Marcos had already brushed off claims that Duterte’s arrest was a political persecution.

According to the President, the government only cooperated with the Interpol.