IMELDA “IMEE” R. MARCOS — SENATE PRIB

SENATOR and presidential sister Maria Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos said on Wednesday that she has withdrawn from her brother’s senatorial slate, citing the administration’s actions regarding the arrest of former President Rodrigo R. Duterte.

“I cannot stand on the same campaign platform as the rest of the Alyansa [Para sa Bagong Pilipinas]. As I have stated from the outset of the election period, I will continue to maintain my independence,” Ms. Marcos said in a statement.

The re-electionist senator added that government officials were “hiding essential facts” during a Senate hearing on the arrest of Mr. Duterte by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

“By repeatedly invoking executive privilege and the sub judice rule during the Senate’s hearing last week, the government witnesses appeared to be hiding essential facts,” she said.

“Beyond their constant narrative that the Philippines was simply complying with its international commitments, a deliberate effort to obscure the truth only gave rise to ever greater suspicion that the Constitution may have been disregarded and our sovereignty diminished by the arrest of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte,” Ms. Marcos added.

Several cabinet members including the Secretaries of Defense, Justice, and Interior and Local government denied having colluded with the ICC to pave the way for the arrest of Mr. Duterte. 

They had also used their executive privileges after Ms. Marcos asked about a meeting with the President to discuss rumors regarding the warrant of arrest issued by the ICC.

“Over and above political advantage, the sovereignty of the country and the interest of true justice for every Filipino must remain paramount,” she added.

Prior to her official withdrawal, Ms. Marcos had skipped the Alyansa slate’s rally in Laguna, last week, stating that she could not accept what was done to the former President.

Suspicions that she had been dropped from the Alyansa were also raised after President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. left out the mention of his sister during his speech, only accounting for 11 senators in the administration’s senatorial ticket. — Adrian H. Halili