Senator Imee Marcos clarified that she and her brother, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., are not enemies.
During the rally kick-off of Alyansa ng Bagong Pilipinas on Tuesday, the senator expressed her hurt over accusations that she was in conflict with her brother, emphasizing that disagreements within a family are normal.
"Nu dadduma ibaga nga ap-apaek kano ni ading ko ti presidente tayo Apo Bongbong. Siguro maulaw kayu manen sipud met saan kami nga agap-apa kinne ading ko. Nasakit nga ibagbagada nga ap-apaek isuna. Palpalgipak lang isuna ta madik kayat nga mairurumen ni ading ko. Marcos ak, Marcos ti presidente tayo," said Imee in Ilocano.
(Some people say that I am competing with my younger sibling, our President, Apo Bongbong. Maybe you’re embarrassed again because we are not actually competing with each other. It hurts to hear people say that I am trying to compete with him. I just remind him because I don’t want my younger sibling to be misled. I am a Marcos, and Marcos is our President.)
Rumors of a rift between the Marcos siblings have persisted, fueled by the senator’s absence from family gatherings at Malacañang and her opposing stances on key policies set by her younger brother, the president.
Senator Marcos has openly criticized her brother on several issues, including foreign policy, agriculture, and inflation. Despite these tensions, she was initially included in the administration’s coalition ticket. However, she quickly withdrew, choosing instead to run as an independent candidate.
Her strong ties to the Dutertes became more evident after their alliance with the Marcos administration formally ended following Vice President Sara Duterte’s resignation as education secretary in June last year.
Nevertheless, Alyansa campaign manager, Navotas Representative Toby Tiangco, confirmed just days before the campaign launch that Senator Marcos remains on their Senate slate.
Tiangco also stated that she has been invited to campaign events nationwide—most of which will be led by her brother.
The administration's senatorial slate officially launched its campaign on Tuesday in Laoag, Ilocos Norte, the home town of the Marcoses.
