APRIL 18, 2016 Vice Presidential candidate Bongbong Marcos in Manila Polo Club together with mother Imelda Marcos. INQUIRER PHOTO / JILSON SECKLER TIU
MANILA, Philippines — Former First Lady Imelda Marcos is very eager to join all political rallies to support the presidential bid of her son, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., according to Senator Imee Marcos on Thursday.
“Nagpupumiglas, gustong-gustong sumali sa lahat ng rally [She’s struggling, she really wants to join all the rallies],” the senator said of his 92-year-old mother when asked if the former first lady will come out to support her son’s campaign sorties.
“Kami ang nagaawat e papaano talaga namang matanda na siya. May commorbity na rin pero talagang buhay niya ang kampanya. Kaya buhay na buhay. Gustong-gustong sumali,” she added.
(We’re trying to hold her down because she’s of age already. She has commorbity but campaigning is her life. That’s why she’s very alive. She really wants to join.)
Imee said her mother does go around on her own but she is not allowed to go to crowded places for health reasons.
“Umiikot din siya ng sarili niya, pinagbabawalan lang namin sa masusukal na lugar na maraming crowd kasi mahirap na ‘no. Pero ayaw paawat talaga naman. At siya nga ang sasabihin kong pinakamagaling na pulitiko sa aming pamilya,” the senator said.
(She also goes around, but we don’t allow her to go to dense or crowded places. But she wouldn’t budge. And I would say she is the best politician in the family.)
“Natural sa kanya e. Mahilig talaga sa tao. Naiintindihan niya yung iba’t ibang tampo, yung kiliti ng iba. Siya [ay] very sensitive and very people-wise. Ang taas ng EQ (emotional intelligence) ng nanay ko, ibang lebel. Kaya kailangan namin siya palagi,” she added.
(She’s a natural. She likes people. She understands their sentiments. She’s very people-wise. My mother’s EQ is really high, it’s on another level. That’s why we need her.)
Imelda, wife of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr., is enjoying her temporary liberty after she was found guilty of seven counts of graft by the Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division in 2018. She was allowed to post bail on the basis of her old age.
Despite this, the Marcos matriarch was not able to attend the proclamation rally of her son and his running mate, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, early last month as she was suffering from a “bad fall” in 2020.
Earlier, Imelda expressed confidence that her son and Duterte-Carpio have a “good chance to win” in the coming May 9 elections.