Dutertes vs Marcoses? Imee asks: Why should I be required to make a choice?

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Imee Marcos on Wednesday pledged her love for her family and the Dutertes despite the discord between the two camps.

“Why should I be required to make a choice? Mahal ko silang lahat,” she said when asked in an interview in the Senate if she is with the Marcoses or the Dutertes.

During the time of former President Rodrigo Duterte, her father, the late president Ferdinand Marcos Sr., was allowed burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

“Alam mo hirap na hirap kami 36 years yan, pinaglaban matapos yung Edsa. Talagang kung saan-saan ako napadpad. Ang hirap-hirap talaga ng pinagdanaan namin ng aking pamilya, ng aking mga anak. Pagkatapos  itong hulog  ng langit na second  chance sa aming pamilya, sisirain lang  ng sinu-sino. Hindi naman  ako papayag nyan,” the senator went on.

(You know, we struggled a lot for 36 years, fighting after Edsa. I really went through many difficulties. It was really difficult for my family and my children.  Then this heaven-sent second chance for our family is just going to be ruined by some people? I won’t allow that.)

Just recently, Duterte clashed with the senator’s brother, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, over  the Charter change issue.

The verbal war was followed by the resignation  call of Duterte’s son, Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte, for the incumbent president.

“Mr. President, if you don’t have love, if you don’t have aspirations for your nation, resign,” the mayor said at his father’s event in Davao over the weekend.

The mayor later apologized to Sen. Imee for his remarks against the President.

While she  thinks there is already a crack in the administration’s Uniteam coalition, the senator still believes this does not affect the “principals.”

Sen. Marcos was apparently referring to  the President and  Duterte’s daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, noting that the two are still  able to work together.

The senator also clarified she was not mad at Romualdez.

Asked again if she was referring  to her cousin, House Speaker Martin Romualdez, the senator categorically said no.

Instead, she pointed to the conflicts and issues affecting the Marcos  administration.

“Yung magulo yung amuyong sa tabi tabi, yung mga demonyo at ahas sa laylayan dyan ng Palasyo,” she added.

(The demons and snakes lurking in the Palace.)

The senator also clarified  she was not mad at Romualdez.

“Hindi ako nagagalit sa kanya. Wala naman akong galit dun, hindi  naman personal. Wala namang ganun. Wala namang kinalaman sa pamilya, galit na personal,”  she said.

(I‘m not angry at him. I don’t have any anger toward him; it’s not personal. There’s no such thing. It’s not related to the family, it’s not personal anger)