President Duterte on Friday said that Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos would be an asset to the Senate despite controversies surrounding her educational background.
During the PDP-Laban proclamation rally in Negros Occidental, Duterte vouched for Marcos’ skills in governance.
“Kapuya magsige’g balik introduce sa iya. Kana si Imee, led a very colorful life. Ang master – totoo ‘yan, master ani local government. Bright eh,” Duterte said.
The President acknowledged that there are many issues surrounding the Marcos family but said he believes Imee can be a good senator.
“The sins of the father cannot visit the daughter. Lain gani ang storya nga ingon ana,” Duterte said. “But ako, tingin ko kay Imee, she can be a very good asset sa Senado. Sanay eh. Trabahante rin,” he added.
The President, however, did not say anything about the controversy surrounding Marcos’ educational attainment.
Duterte earlier said that he is endorsing Marcos’ Senate bid because she was one of the two who government officials from Luzon who supported him in the 2016 presidential elections.
Marcos, however, is facing controversy due to her educational background.
Marcos claimed that she earned degrees from the University of the Philippines and Princeton University but both institutions denied having records of her graduating.
Early this week, Marcos evaded anew questions about her claims about her educational background even after Hugpong ng Pagbabago campaign manager Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said Marcos would explain the issue herself.
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo had said that candidates lying about their educational attainment can be considered as fraud. (Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos)
