Senator Imee Marcos is hoping her brother, President Marcos, won’t take her latest political move the wrong way after she appeared in a new campaign ad being endorsed by Vice President Sara Duterte.
“Well, para sa akin e sana wag masamain, alam ko nagtampo dahil dun sa hearing,” she said in an interview on Tuesday, April 15.
This new ad, released on Monday night, April 14, has fueled fresh speculation that this may further widen the gap between the Marcos siblings.
The presidential sister, however, clarified that the collaboration with Duterte was unplanned.
“Sa totoo lang biglaan na lang kami, pareho kaming nakalimot na may kampanya pala,” she said.
The two showed up in a new political advertisement wearing black which, according to Senator Marcos, was the idea of Duterte, a shift from the usual red-colored getup, a color associated with the Marcoses.
The video’s overall theme “ITIM” was also given a new meaning—“Ipaglalaban Tayo ni Imee Marcos.”
The ad was also posted with the caption, “Inday (Sara) Trusts Imee Marcos.”
As the two officials were shown on the ad’s foreground, videos of Marcos holding Senate inquiries, as well as scenes of poverty and crimes, flash in the background.
It was on March 26 when Senator Marcos left Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas backed by her brother President Marcos. This was amid her continuing probe into the controversial arrest of and eventual surrender to the International Criminal Court (ICC) of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
She stated that clearly, there were actions taken by the administration that run counter to her ideals and principles.
The word “alyansa” was even mentioned by the senator in the 30-second campaign ad.
“Gutom na ang sikmura, gutom pa sa hustisya. Ginigipit ang hindi ka-alyansa,” she said.
Senator Marcos said that Vice President just arrived from The Hague where her father is detained. According to Senator Marcos, the Vice President as well as Senator Robin Padilla was told by her father to campaign for their allies in the Philippines.
Senator Marcos, however, stated that she doubts that the former leader specifically asked to campaign for her.
With this latest political ad seen as a direct critique of the current administration led by her brother, Senator Marcos remarked, “Wala tayong magagawa marami nang tuloy-tuloy na kamalian di ko maintindihan kung sino talaga ang nag-aadvise.”
Drawing from her experience during their father’s time in power, she noted how different people with their own agendas had surrounded him.
“Ipinagdarasal ko lagi ang aking kapatid mabalik sa tamang landas. Di na tama itong pulitikang mapang-api, mapaghiganti. Tutukan natin problema ng mamamayan.,” she added.
Senator Marcos admitted that she has received sentiments, especially from Ilocanos, that she should help her brother instead. She explained that her father was never vengeful or oppressive and that she finds it difficult to accept the actions of the advisers surrounding her brother.
“Kung tutuusin ang aking ama ang sabi sa akin alalayan mo ang kapatid mo, buong buhay ko ‘yan ang paulit-ulit, alalayan mo, bantayan mo yan. Di ko na magawa di na ako pinapayagang lumapit hinaharang na kami at kung anu-ano ang sinasabi tungkol sa amin,” she said. (Dhel Nazario, Raymund Antonio)
