Senator Imee Marcos announced on Wednesday, March 26, her withdrawal from the administration-backed Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial slate.
“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 in a statement.
Her withdrawal from Alyansa stemmed from Marcos administration’s move to allow the arrest and surrender of former President Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to stand trial for crimes against humanity in relation to the brutal war on drugs.
The presidential sister, who is the head of Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, earlier conducted a hearing on Duterte’s arrest.
By repeatedly invoking executive privilege and the sub judice rule during the Senate’s hearing into the arrest of the former president last week, the government witnesses “appeared to be hiding essential facts,” she noted.
“Beyond their constant narrative that the Philippines was simply complying with its international commitments, a deliberate effort to obscure the truth only gave rise to ever greater suspicion that the Constitution may have been disregarded and our sovereignty diminished by the arrest of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte,” she said.
“As will be soon discussed in my preliminary findings, clearly there were actions taken by the administration which run counter to my ideals and principles,” she added.
Marcos said that over and above political advantage, the sovereignty of the country and the interest of true justice for every Filipino must remain paramount.
Marcos had skipped two previous Alyansa rallies in Tacloban and in Trece Martires, Cavite. In both instances, she cited Duterte’s arrest.
Sought to respond on this development, Bagong Alyansa’s campaign manager Rep. Toby Tiangco said they welcome her decision in a very brief statement.
“We respect Senator Imee’s decision. We wish her luck in the campaign,” Tiangco said. (Dhel Nazario)
