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MANILA, Philippines — Reelectionist Sen. Imee Marcos skipped yesterday’s rally of the Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial slate in Tacloban City, campaigning instead in Camarines Sur as she expressed sympathy for arrested former president Rodrigo Duterte, who is now in The Hague facing trial for his war on drugs.
“I would like to apologize to my fellow warays because I could not attend the rally in Tacloban. I could not accept what happened to FPRRD,” the senator posted in her social media account, using Duterte’s initials.
It has been public knowledge that Marcos is not on good terms with her younger brother, President Marcos, whose administration complied this week with the arrest warrant for Duterte issued by the International Criminal Court and coursed through the Interpol.
She said she is monitoring the developments so that the “public can be enlightened, and a solution can be made about the turnover of our former president.”
President Marcos slams drug war
Meanwhile, the President repeated his criticisms against his predecessor’s bloody drug war in his speech during the rally.
“None of us believes that the solution to crime and drugs is to kill thousands of our fellow Filipinos. That is not right,” he said.
“The right way to ensure peace and order is through (proper implementation of) laws and effective support for our police force and our local governments,” he added.
Speaker Martin Romualdez pledged yesterday a decisive victory for the Alyansa senatorial candidates in the May 12 elections.
Romualdez made the promise as he played host to President Marcos and Alyansa candidates who took their campaign to Tacloban City and Leyte.
“I promise that the candidates of our President will win big here in Tacloban City and Leyte. We will deliver a big victory for the Alyansa ticket,” Romualdez said.
He said Leyte is considered a bailiwick of both the Marcoses and the Romualdezes.
“Our support to the President is very wide and strong. I am sure that this will translate into votes for Alyansa candidates on May 12,” Romualdez said.
He cited that in the 2022 presidential elections, Leyte delivered 641,065 votes for Marcos while his closest rival received only 99,207 votes.
“Leyteños consider President (Marcos) as one of their own,” Romualdez said.
Leyte is the home province of the President’s mother, former first lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos.
The Alyansa ticket is composed of former interior secretary Benhur Abalos, Makati City Mayor Abigail Binay, Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr., Sen. Pia Cayetano, former senator Panfilo Lacson, Sen. Lito Lapid, former senator Manny Pacquiao, former Senate president Vicente Sotto III, Sen. Francis Tolentino, former social welfare secretary Erwin Tulfo, Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar and Imee Marcos. — Jose Rodel Clapano, Helen Flores
