Sen. Imee Marcos. Photo: Senate/Facebook 

MANILA, Philippines – Following her explosive hearing on the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte where she grilled government executives who, despite holding ground, floundered with their answers, Sen. Imee Marcos is now clueless if she is still part of the administration’s Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial ticket.  

“Hindi ko alam, hindi ko alam, hindi ko pa tinatanong, hindi naman kami nag-uusap. Ang totoo okay lang kasi sa totoo lang, nakakatutok naman ako doon sa kaso at ‘yung hearing at kung ano ang magiging findings namin,” the senator said in a chance interview after attending a general assembly of a cooperative in Pasig City Sunday, March 23.

“Kasi sa totoo lang Nakatutok ako doon dahil nakataya ‘yung soberanya ng ating bansa. Mas mahalaga ‘yun at mas nakakakaba kesa sa eleksyon, kampanya, pulitika,” she said. 

The older Marcos also disclosed that Alyansa ticket campaign manager, Navotas Lone District Rep. Toby Tianngco has yet to reach out to her to discuss matters. 

“Hindi, hindi, walang balita kay Toby,” she said. 

As to the possibility of her still joining admin sorties, Imee said she is likewise not sure because her attention is focused on the case of the former president and studying international law. 

“Palagay ko naalangan ako, busy-busyhan ako, mahirap mag-aral ng international law. Hindi naman natin masyadong kabisado ‘yung ICC, ‘yun Interpol, ‘yung mga issues ng RA 9851 at expatriation law, ‘yung iba’t-ibang batas kaya nag-aaral din kami kasi bago din eh. Para sa ating lahat ito, iba kasi ‘yung sistema nila,” she said.  

While being an admin candidate, Imee had been a vocal critic of many of the Marcos administration’s moves. Among those she openly opposed were the People’s Initiative, the 2025 national budget, Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment and the latest being the former president’s surrender to the International Criminal Court (ICC) over alleged crimes against humanity.

BBM drops sister?

Speculations about Imee being dropped from the admin banner widely spread when her brother, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. did not mention her in a campaign sortie in Cavite last Friday March 21, the same day she conducted her hearing on Duterte. 

The day before, the president also did not mention her older sister in a rally in Sta. Rosa City, Laguna where he campaigned only for 11 candidates. 

“Let us unite for our alliance. Let us not turn the Alyansa into a coalition of ten, 11 persons, 11 candidates running for senator with the Alyansa,” the president told supporters in Sta. Rosa. 

No contact with brother 

The senator also said she has not talked to her brother for a long time and only sees him in public events and gatherings. 

“Hindi na kami nag-uusap, matagal na… Maraming nakapaligid sa kanya na humaharang sa aming mag-usap,” she said in a forum on Saturday (March 22).

Vice President’s endorsement? 

Speculation also arose that after what seems to be a falling out with her brother, Imee would be endorsed by the Vice President Sara Duterte especially after headlining the hearing that exposed supposed infringement of the constitutional rights of the former president. 

The president’s sister however denied calling for the hearing for an endorsement but just to ingrain the supremacy of the Philippine Constitution above all. 

“Yung hearing inilunsad ko hindi para sa endorsement o para sa pulitika o para sa kampanya. Talagang sa akin lang, ang batas ay dapat mangibabaw sa lahat. Higit sa lahat ang saligang batas natin bilang Pilipino at kung may mali, ay mali. At ang tama ay tama. Sorry na lang kung sinong tatamaan, bato bato sa langit,” Imee said. 

The younger Duterte also said that she and the senator have not spoken yet about any endorsement but she sent her gratitude for conducting the hearing. 

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