Statement of Malacañang on Sara Duterte-Imee Marcos Deal To Bring Duterte Home
MALACAÑANG – The Palace claimed that President Bongbong Marcos is not involved in the “deal” between Vice Pres. Sara Duterte and Senator Imee Marcos to bring home former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
Vice Pres. Sara Duterte endorsed Sen. Imee Marcos during the 2025 Midterm Elections. At one of the campaign sorties, although it was not clear if it was a joke or not, Duterte told Marcos that she and the voters will bring her back to the Senate while she will bring her father home.
Former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte is currently detained in The Hague for more than three (3) months now. He is under the custody of the International Criminal Court. Despite her brother, Pres. Bongbong Marcos, being criticized over the ICC arrest of Duterte, Sen. Imee Marcos sided with the Duterte family. According to her, she cannot accept what was done against the former President.
Recently, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte reiterated that it will be Sen. Imee Marcos who will bring her father home to the Philippines. She stressed that it was her brother who allegedly sent the former President to The Hague. The arrest and the transfer of the custody of Duterte to the ICC caused political turmoil in the Philippine government.
Following the 2025 Elections, the Presidential Sister joined the trip of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte to the Hague. The Vice President has scheduled visits to former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte. Sen. Imee Marcos even met with former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s lawyer Nicholas Kaufman. According to her, she and Kaufman will bring the former President back to the country.
Recently, Malacañang reacted to the statement of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte that she tags along Sen. Imee Marcos with her because she will bring the former President home to the country. Based on a report on GMA News, the Palace denied the involvement of Pres. Bongbong Marcos in the supposed “deal” between the two (2) government officials.
“Ang Pangulo ay walang partisipasyon sa kanilang naging kasunduan. The President is not privy to the contract or agreement between a user and a person willing to be used. Walang kinalaman ang Pangulo sa kontratang kanilang pinasukan, iyong isang tao na manggagamit at isang taong willing magpagamit,” Palace press officer Atty. Claire Castro said.
Based on the report, Malacañang said Pres. Bongbong Marcos just wants to focus in his job. The Palace Official stressed that the power crisis in the province of Siquijor is another problem.
“Nadagdag pa nga po ang problema dito sa Siquijor. At kung ang Bise Presidente lamang sana ay nakipag-usap sa kanyang kaibigan, baka hindi pa dumaan at dumating sa krisis na ito sa Siquijor,” Castro said.
The Siquijor Island Power Cooperative (SIPCOR) is owned by the Villar Group of Companies. It is no secret to the public that the Vice President is close to the Villars. Senator-elect Camille Villar even made a special message of gratitude to Vice Pres. Sara Duterte after she won the senatorial race.