Imee Marcos declines to join admin's Eleksyon 2025 slate

Senator Imee Marcos announced Saturday that she will not join the Eleksyon 2025 senatorial slate of the administration despite being included by her brother, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

In a social media video post with references to their father, the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., Imee said, "As his eldest, I choose to stand free and firm, like him; in believing that there should be no allegiance but to the Filipino people."

"It is never easy to stand alone, in campaigns and in politics... But that is the legacy my father left me, that is the legacy of Apo Lakay whom we remember today," said Imee, noting that Saturday is the 35th death anniversary of their father, Ferdinand Marcos Sr.

The Marcos patriarch is also referred to as Apo Lakay or "Respected Elder" in Ilocano.

"I chose to stand alone so that my ading (younger brother) will no longer be put in a difficult position, and my true friends won't have to hesitate," she said.

"I choose to remain free and loyal—not to any group, but to every Filipino," said Marcos, who is currently affiliated with the Nacionalista Party (NP).

Her NP partymate House Deputy Speaker Camille Villar is also part of the senatorial ticket of the administration's electoral alliance, the Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas.

Imee said she would continue to serve Filipinos "without favor," prioritizing the welfare of each citizen through the laws she passed in her past term, with the guidance of the truth and the "path and principles of my Father."

While announcing her decision, she thanked the Nacionalista Party and her brother Bongbong for including her in the administration's senatorial slate.

"I offer my heartfelt gratitude to President Bongbong, who, despite the anger and extreme cruelty of some, came to my defense and included me in the alliance," Imee said.

"Many thanks also to NP and to all my allies who continue to support me, may your trust remain with me," she added.

Imee however clarified on Sunday that she is not breaking away from NP.

She just wants to have her own campaign separate from Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas but she remains a member of NP, her office said in a message to GMA News Online.

President Marcos on Thursday announced the administration's senatorial slate during the Alyansa Para Sa Bagong Pilipinas Convention at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City.

Imee was the only senatorial candidate of the alliance who was not present at the event.

Trust remains

Navotas Representative Toby Tiangco, the campaign manager for the alliance, had said that the slate members were chosen because of their support to the Marcos administration’s projects and legislative agenda.

Sought for comment on Imee's plan to run as an independent, Tiangco said that she is held in high esteem, especially for her advocacies and track record in public service.

"Naniniwala ang Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas sa kakayahan niyang maglingkod nang tapat sa mga Pilipino," Tiangco said in a message to GMA News Online.

(The Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas believes in her capability to truthfully serve the Filipino people.)

"Patuloy na susuporta ang Alyansa kay Sen. Imee para sa tagumpay ng legislative agenda ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos Jr. para sa kaunlarang walang maiiwan at para sa magandang kinabukasan nating lahat," he added.

(The Alyansa continues to support Sen. Imee, so that the legislative agenda of President Bongbong Marcos Jr. would succeed, and that we would all have a brighter future ahead.) — VDV/KG, GMA Integrated News