Sen. Imee Marcos Speaks on Status w/ Brother Pres. Bongbong Marcos Now amid Political Turmoil
IMEE MARCOS – The Senator claimed that she has no communication with her brother, President Bongbong Marcos, for quite a long time now.
The Marcos siblings seemingly have different views on the issue that caused political turmoil in the Philippines — the controversial arrest of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte. Last March 11, Duterte was arrested by the Philippine National Police (PNP) upon his arrival from Hong Kong.
The PNP arrested Duterte at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). He was detained for several hours at the Villamor Air Base and was sent to The Hague, Netherlands via Dubai on the eve of March 11. It elicited different reactions from the government and earned Pres. Bongbong Marcos criticisms.
Pres. Bongbong Marcos claimed that the arrest of Duterte followed all the necessary procedure. He also claimed that the government acted on the arrest of the former President not because the warrant was issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) but because of its commitment with the Interpol.
Sen. Imee Marcos claimed she was shocked by the arrest of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte. Following it, Sen. Marcos skipped the campaign rally of Alyansa Para Sa Pagbabago in Tacloban. The campaign sorties of the grand alliance is led by Pres. Bongbong Marcos.
Sen. Marcos also skipped the Cavite campaign rally of the Alyansa to investigate Duterte’s arrest. She led the Senate committee investigation on the arrest of the former President. She believes there was no due process in the arrest of Duterte.
Pres. Marcos did not mention his sister’s name in the campaign event of the Alyansa in Cavite. Following it, Sen. Imee Marcos officially left the Alyansa. According to her, she cannot stand to be in the same campaign platform with them as the government’s recent actions allegedly do not match her ideals and principles in life.
Malacañang denied that there’s a rift between Pres. Bongbong Marcos and his sister. According to Palace Press Officer Atty. Claire Castro, the Chief Executive is not short-tempered. Recently, the Senator confirmed that she and the President have not talked for quite a while now.
“Matagal na kami hindi masyado nag-uusap. Maraming humaharang. Matagal na. Nakikita ko lang ‘pag public events. At saka, mabilis lang yun, maraming tao,” the Senator said.
Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, when asked if Pres. Bongbong Marcos was angered by the probe based on her view, Sen. Imee Marcos answered in the affirmative. According to her, the Chief Executive was probably angered by the conflicting answers of the government officials who appeared at the probe.
“Nagulat naman ako nung nagalit na nga, kasi nga siguro hindi nagkakasundo yung mga sagot, hindi tumutugma. Hindi ko na kasalanan yun. Malay ko ba kung anong isasagot nila,” she said.
On former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s 80th birthday today, Sen. Marcos expressed that she wants to visit former Pres. Duterte in The Hague.