VP Duterte cites trust in Imee Marcos in ‘ITIM’ campaign ad

ALLIES In a political campaign ad posted by reelectionist Sen. Imee Marcos on her Facebook page on Monday, she and Vice President Sara Duterte list the problems ailing the country. —Screengrab from Sen. Imee Marcos’ FB page

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte has cemented her support for Sen. Imee Marcos, who is running for reelection in the May 12 elections, by appearing in a campaign advertisement endorsing her candidacy.

Marcos posted the 31-second, somber-looking political campaign ad on her Facebook page on Monday.

Titled “ITIM (Inday Trusts Imee Marcos),” it featured the two dressed in black, which they said was “the current color of the country” because of the many problems it was facing, including crimes and injustice.

“Itim ngayon ang kulay ng bansa, sa gutom at krimen nagluluksa (Black is the current color of the country, mourning over hunger and criminality),” Duterte said.

“Gutom na ang sikmura, gutom pa sa hustisya. Ginigipit ang hindi ka-alyansa (Starving for food while also starving for justice. Oppressing non-allies),” Marcos said.

The political campaign ad officially confirmed Duterte’s endorsement for Marcos, ending months of speculation on whether they remain on good terms after the Vice President cut all political ties with her brother, President Marcos.

READ: Imee Marcos leaves Bongbong-backed Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas

The Office of the Vice President, however, has yet to issue any statement confirming her support for the reelectionist senator, only telling reporters that Duterte will address it “after Holy Week.”

Imee Marcos withdrew from the senatorial slate of the administration’s Alyansa Para Sa Bagong Pilipinas in late March, saying she wanted to remain independent. This was also after her committee launched an investigation into the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte and his transfer to The Hague to stand trial before the International Criminal Court.

Villar, too?

Another Alyansa senatorial candidate, House Deputy Speaker Camille Villar, has also been reported to have the support of Duterte after photos showing them with her father, business tycoon and former Senate President Manny Villar, were posted on Facebook by former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque over the weekend.

“Politics is addition after all!” Roque wrote in the caption.

Addition, not division

But Alyansa campaign manager Toby Tiangco said on Monday that Camille remains on the administration’s ticket.

“The five-party Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas, composed of Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, Lakas-CMD, National People’s Coalition, National Unity Party, and Nacionalista Party, is intact,” Tiangco said.

“Our candidates continue to receive overwhelming support both at the national and local level, and even from grassroots organizations. This is something that we welcome and we are proud of because politics is about addition, not division. It is about building coalitions,” he said, without mentioning the supposed endorsement by Duterte.

Tiangco said Marcos personally handpicked his candidates for their qualifications and track records.

“Every endorsement for an Alyansa candidate is a nod to the Bagong Pilipinas pursued by our President. And that is what matters most,” he added.

Camille Villar’s numbers saw a decline in last week’s Pulse Asia pre-election survey, although she remains within the “probable winners” list.