Marcos on Imee not joining admin slate: That's her choice

“That’s fine. That’s her choice.”

This was the response of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. when asked about the decision of his sister, Senator Imee Marcos, not to join the administration senatorial slate.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Marcos said the senator is still free to join the campaign of the Alyansa Para Sa Bagong Pilipinas for the midterm polls. He also assured his sister that the administration would continue to back her candidacy in the coming elections.

''I suppose that gives her a little bit more scope and freedom to make her own schedule and to campaign in the way that she would like to do,'' Marcos said.

''But you know, the Alyansa is still behind her. We are still continuing to support her. And if down the road she chooses to join us in our campaign sorties, she is of course very welcome,'' he added.

Marcos also recalled that he also ran as an independent before.

'Need to be free'

Reacting to the president's remarks, Senator Imee on Monday thanked her brother for understanding her decision.

"Nagpapasalamat ako naintindihan niya ang sitwasyon ko," Senator Imee said in an ambush interview.

(I am grateful that he understands my situation.)

In a separate press conference, Senator Imee confirmed that she is withdrawing from the administration slate in an attempt to reunite the broken "UniTeam".

"Maraming nagsasabi noon na ako'y namamangka sa dalawang ilog. Ang ninanais ko ay ako ang maging daan kung saan magtatagpo ang lahat ng ilog. Tangway ika nga sa akin," Senator Imee said.

(Many people are saying that I am straddling on two rivers. What I wanted was to be the path where all rivers converge.)

"I need to be free to cross the line, to talk to all parties, and to get things done. Uniteam was a dream that I share in 2022 and I hold fast to that dream of unity for all Filipinos," she added.

Asked if she will join members of the administration slate onstage, Senator Imee said she sees no problem with it if she will be invited, but she is worried about the possible tensions that might arise during the campaign period.

"Ano ba naman pumunta, wala namang problema doon. Ang kinakatakutan ko lang 'yung init ng halalan. Alam naman natin na talagang nagiging malupit, minsan masakit ang sinasabi, kung anu-anong banat. Aba'y hindi ko matitiis 'yon. Kaya maigi na lamang na lumayo at magsarili kahit na mahirap," she said.

(There's no problem going there. The only thing I'm afraid of is the heat of the elections. We know how cruel it can get — sometimes the words spoken can be hurtful, with all sorts of sharp remarks. I just can't bear that. So it's probably better to keep a distance and be alone, no matter how difficult it is.)

While she is expecting this, Senator Imee said she will not criticize her brother.

"May tinanong siya e. Sabi niya, 'Kung bahagi ka ng Alyansa, babanatan mo ba ko?' E di sabi ko, 'Siyempre hindi. Hindi naman kita binabanatan kahit kelan. 'Yung mga tauhan mo pa, 'yung mga nakaaligid diyan,'" Senator Imee shared.

(He asked me before, 'If you're part of the alliance, will you criticize me?' So I said, 'Of course not. You know I never criticized you, only the people around you.')

Senator Imee also said that she will talk with the Nacionalista Party members about her decision.

The lawmaker said she has yet to determine whether she will resign from the party or not.

"Wala naman akong problema sa NP. Ang akin lamang kinakailangan maging independent ako sa alyansa," she said.

(I don't have any issues with NP. The only thing I need is to be independent from the alliance.)

NP is one of the five political parties that signed the manifesto for the Alyansa Para Sa Bagong Pilipinas. The other parties in the alliance are Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), National Unity Party, Lakas-CMD, and the Nationalist People’s Coalition.

It can be recalled that Senator Imee has criticized Lakas-CMD president and Speaker Martin Romualdez who has been accompanying President Marcos in his events.

Over the weekend, Senator Imee announced that she would not join the Eleksyon 2025 senatorial slate of the administration despite being included by her brother.

She also vowed that she would continue to serve Filipinos "without favor," prioritizing the welfare of each citizen through the laws she passed during her term, with the guidance of the truth and the "path and principles of my Father."

While announcing her decision, Senator Imee also thanked the Nacionalista Party and her brother, the President, 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," Senator Imee said.

The midterm elections will be held on May 12, 2025. —KG, GMA Integrated News