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MANDAUE CITY — Sen. Imee Marcos on Saturday acknowledged her political and personal debt to former president Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Sara Duterte while steering clear of their escalating feud, which has fractured the UniTeam alliance from the 2022 elections.
During a press conference in Mandaue City on Feb. 22, Marcos was asked whether she would attend an indignation rally organized by Duterte supporters in Cebu later that day.
The demonstration was held to show opposition to the impeachment process against the vice president while also criticizing the administration of senator's brother, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Marcos said she would not attend the rally due to a busy schedule in Cebu.
"I probably won't be going to the rally. I have a full schedule as usual here in Cebu, so I don't even know where it is," she said in a press conference in Bai Hotel Mandaue City, which is located near the venue of the rally.
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However, the senator was candid about her longstanding ties to the Dutertes, particularly in connection with her late father, former president Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr.
"It's very political, and it doesn't help because I have a big debt to President Duterte," the senator said.
She said that four presidents had come and gone, including her father's own cousin, who did not allow the late president's burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
Marcos emphasized that it was Duterte who approved her father's burial at the national cemetery in Taguig.
Marcos also credited the Dutertes for supporting her political career, recalling that the former president and his daughter played key roles in her electoral victories.
"In 2019, her father campaigned for me. That's why I also have a big debt to Inday Sara and President Duterte," she said. "In 2022, they became a tandem in UniTeam."
Marcos, however, expressed sadness over the growing discord between the two political families, describing it as one of the most challenging situations she has faced.
She noted that the two sides could no longer understand each other, making it especially difficult for her.
She compared the rift to a dispute between loved ones, emphasizing that taking sides was not the solution. Instead, she said, one should wait for an opportunity to facilitate dialogue and pray for reconciliation.
Marcos also stressed her intention to remain independent, refusing to take sides in the dispute.
"To me, being independent means being above the fray. Sometimes I go to administration rallies, sometimes I go to local rallies on my own. But certainly, I have no desire to attack or defend either side," she said.
Marcos emphasized the need to prioritize economic challenges over political infighting, pointing out the rising cost of living as a major concern.
She noted that high prices of essential goods, including rice and gasoline, continue to burden Filipinos, describing the situation as devastating.
She also highlighted employment concerns, noting job losses in Cebu's Mactan Export Processing Zone (MEPZ) and pushing for wage reforms.
The rift between the president and the vice president has widened in recent months, as supporters of former president Duterte have grown increasingly critical of the current administration.
Despite the tension, the senator reiterated her stance of not engaging in further division.
"I don't want to fight. There are more important problems we need to solve as a nation," she said.
