VP Sara endorsement not a reward for Duterte probe, says Imee

Sen. Imee R. Marcos. Senate PRIB.

MANILA, Philippines—  Sen. Imee Marcos  on Tuesday dismissed speculations that the endorsement of Vice President Sara Duterte was a “reward” for probing the arrest of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Marcos initiated the probe as head of the Senate committee on foreign affairs.

“Reward? That never crossed my mind, and it never crossed hers either,” she said, speaking in Filipino, in  Zoom interview, referring to the Vice President.

The two appeared in a 30-second political advertisement titled “ITIM” or Inday Trusts Imee Marcos. Inday is VP Duterte’s nickname.

Black, according to their political ad, is the current color of the country as it is mourning over hunger and criminality and is  starving for justice.

‘Idea of the Vice President’

READ: VP Duterte cites trust in Imee Marcos in itim campaign ad

According to Marcos, the  black theme was the idea of  the Vice President.

“Yes, she was the one saying she wasn’t in the mood—that everything felt dark and mournful, just like what many others were feeling too,” she said.

“As for me, I said, how could that be turned into a political ad? Would that even appeal to people? Isn’t it just sad? And when you really think about it, it’s true—it doesn’t feel right to be dancing or riding around on a motorcycle. It’s out of place, especially at a time when the people are going through such hardship,” the senator added.

Marcos pointed out that she and Duterte remain friends despite the things they said to each other in the past.

On the other hand, she hopes her brother,  President Ferdinand  “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., would not take Duterte’s endorsement against her.

The senator left her brother’s senatorial slate after starting the probe on the former president’s arrest.

‘Maintain my independence’

In a statement on March 26,  she pointed out the actions taken by the government which she said “run counter to my ideals and principles.”

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

In the Zoom interview,  the senator noted the has already been conducting investigations  on many issues confronting the country, and not just the arrest of Duterte.

Former President Duterte is now under the custody of  the International Criminal  Court in the Hague, Netherlands waiting trial fo  his alleged crimes against humanity  in connection with his administration’s war  on drugs.

READ: Rodrigo Duterte arrives in The Hague

“So this isn’t something new, and I hope people can understand that I believe the administration is no longer on the right path—and that saddens me. For me, this is a great tragedy for all of us,”  Sen. Marcos said.