For brother’s Cabinet, Imee Marcos recommends forming a ‘team of rivals’

 Sen. Imee Marcos (Screen grab/Senate PRIB)

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Imee Marcos on Thursday stressed the need for her brother, President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to form a Cabinet  “team of rivals.”

“Yung sa Cabinet members, marami kaming nire-recommend na galing sa iba’t ibang partido. Kasi yung dream talaga ever since—pati sa tatay ko noon—yung tinatawag na team of rivals,” Sen. Marcos said in an interview over radio RMN DZXL.

(For the Cabinet members, we are recommending a lot of names coming from different parties. Because the dream ever since—even during my father’s time—is to have a so-called team of rivals.)

“Kahit kalaban ninyo sa politika, kahit hindi kayo nagkakaisa sa ambisyon, sa partido, e kung nagkakaisa naman kayo sa ambisyon para sa ating bansa, bakit hindi magsama-sama ang best and brightest,” she added.

 (Even if they’re from different sides of the political fence, even if they have different ambitions and parties, if they have one ambition for the country, why not gather the best and brightest?)

The president-elect has so far filled up eight Cabinet positions. 

“Syempre I won’t jump the gun on the appointees, di naman ako kasama sa transition team. Pero kung sa akin lang maraming magaling na nagmula sa iba’t ibang partido, nagsilbi sa ilalim ng iba’t ibang administrasyon na oposisyon kami pero ganun pa man, sila ang pinakamagagaling na Pilipino,” the senator added.

 (Of course I won’t jump the gun on the appointees, I’m not part of the transition team. But for me, there are good choices from different parties, who served under different administrations when we were the opposition, even though that’s the case, they are the best.)

Asked whether someone from the Liberal Party would also fit in well in her brother’s Cabinet, Marcos answered in the affirmative.

“Mahaba-haba ang listahan diyan, marami ring mahuhusay, magagaling na kung nais pa nilang magsilbi, bakit hindi?” she said, but opted not to name names.

(There’s a long list, many of them are good and if they still want to serve, why not?)

 “Ayoko na mag-name names dahil di naman ako kasama sa (I don’t want to name names because I’m not part of the) appointing team, pero para sa ‘kin (but for me), here are so many who are very, very good still..and I do believe that they can still serve our country in many ways,” she added.

She likewise pointed to outgoing President Rodrigo Dueterte’s appointed officials.

“Marami ring mahusay diyan. Yung iba talagang puspusang kaibigan at supporter so dapat tuloy-tuloy pa rin,” Marcos added.

(Many are capable. Others are really close friends and supporters so that should continue.)

The only son and namesake of late former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. was proclaimed as the country’s next Chief Executive on Thursday.

Duterte’s eldest daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, was proclaimed as the next vice president.

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