‘Marcos ako’: Reelectionist Imee refutes family feud claims at start of 2025 campaign

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Senator Imee Marcos addresses the elephant in the room and says she feels 'hurt' to hear people say she's picking a fight with her brother, the President

ILOCOS NORTE, Philippines — Before an arena filled with her family’s loyal supporters and flanked by fellow administration-backed Senate bets, Senator Imee Marcos said she was “hurt” by talk that she was at odds with her brother, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Senator Marcos dispelled the speculation during the kickoff of the administration-backed Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas campaign kickoff rally at the Centennial Arena in Laoag on Tuesday, February 11, as she began her bid for a fresh Senate term.

“Gagangay laeng ti gura ken apa iti pamilkya, aprtido, pulitika, pati karruba. Nu dadduma ibaga nga apapaen kanok ni ading ko, ti presidente tayo apo bongong, siguro maulaw kayo manen sipud met — saan kami nga agap-apa, nasakit nu ibagbaga da nga ap-apaen isuna. Palpalagipak lang isuna ta madik kayat nga mairurumen ni ading ko,” Senator Marcos said in a prepared speech delivered in Ilokano.

(It’s normal for families, parties, politicians and even neighbors to fight. Some people say I fight with my little brother, President Bongbong, maybe you’ll be more confused because we are not fighting. It hurts when they say I pick a fight with him. I just remind him from time to time because I do not like when my little brother is taken advantage of.)

The Marcos siblings have long been hounded by talk of a rift, fueled by the senator’s absence from family gatherings in Malacañang and her contrary stances to the policies of her ading or younger brother. On several issues — including on foreign policy, agriculture, and inflation — Senator Marcos has been a prominent critic of her brother.

Under President Marcos 

Despite this talk, Senator Marcos was included in the administration coalition ticket, which she then immediately withdrew from, saying she wanted run as an independent candidate. The senator is a staunch ally of the Dutertes whose alliance with the Marcos administration officially ended when Vice President Sara Duterte resigned as education secretary in June last year.

But Alyansa campaign manager Navotas Representative Toby Tiangco, just days before the campaign kick off, said Senator Marcos would remain in their Senate slate. Tiangco also said that Senator Marcos has been invited to the slate’s sorties across the country — almost all of which would be headlined by her brother. 

“Marcos ako, Marcos ti presidente tayo. Ti suro ni tatang ko, isang bansa, isang diwa. Ipaigid tayo pay lang amin ti pinag kinkinniawatan tapno madinggeg tayo ti agbisbisin nga kakailian tayo,” said the senator, before going on to highlight her priority measures: poverty alleviation, job generation, fight against inflation, and benefits for persons with disabilities, solo parents, and senior citizens. 

(I’m a Marcos, our President is a Marcos. My father taught me, “One Country, One Diwa.” Let’s set aside our misunderstandings, and listen to Filipinos who are hungry.)

Senator Marcos, up until the January 2025 Pulse Asia preference survey, seemed to set for an uphill climb to clinch reelection. In early preference polls, she barely made it to the “Magic 12,” or the threshold for a candidate to have a statistically probable chance of winning. 

But the Ilokana was the biggest gainer in the latest Pulse Asia survey — placing her in the “winnable” group of 14, according to the pollster. She is one of the 10 “winnable” senatorial candidates who are part of the Alyansa slate.

“Ngarod, agyaman ak iti awan sardeng ken napalaos toi suporta yo iti pamilyak, Marcos idi, Marcos ita, Marcos latta. ket aggapo ta maymaysak laeng nga kandidato nga ilocano, agtitinnulong tayo kuma manen apo. Imee idi, imee tatta, imee latta. diyos unay ti aglina apo,” she said in her campaign speech

(I am thankful for your undying support for my family – Marcos then, Marcos now, Marcos still. Since I am the only Ilocano candidate, I hope we will still help each other out. Imee then, Imee now, Imee still.)

Ilocos Norte is the bailiwick of the Marcos clan. Both President Marcos and Senator Marcos were governor of the province. The incumbent governor, Matthew, is Senator Marcos’ son. — Rappler.com