Manila, Philippines — Senator Imee Marcos officially withdraws from the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas, the senatorial slate endorsed by her brother, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
In an official statement on Wednesday, Marcos confirmed her exit from the administration-backed Senatorial Slate, highly emphasizing the matters raised in the Senate regarding former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s arrest.
It can be recalled that on March 20, Marcos led the Senate hearing with several government officials, in order to investigate whether Duterte’s arrest was valid and legal.
“Paulit-ulit nilang hirit—sumusunod lamang ang bansa sa pandaigdigang kasunduan, pero ang hayagang pagtatakip sa katotohanan ay lalo lamang nagpalakas ng hinala na maaaring nalabag ang Saligang Batas at nabawasan ang ating soberanya sa pagkakaaresto ni dating Pangulo Rodrigo Roa Duterte,” she said.
She also noted her initial findings on the issue—which she did not immediately disclose—about the actions done by the administration to apprehend Duterte that are against her beliefs and principles.
With this, she made a clear resolve that she cannot campaign and stand with other candidates from the Alyansa slate anymore.
“Dahil dito, hindi ko na magagawang mangampanya at tumuntong sa isang entablado kasama ang iba pang kasapi ng Alyansa. Higit sa anumang pulitikal na pakinabang. Dapat manaig ang soberanya ng bansa at ang tunay na katarungan para sa bawat Pilipino,” the statement read.
Earlier, queries also rose on whether the senator is still included in the administration’s lineup after PBBM omitted her name twice in his endorsement speech during the campaign rallies in Cavite and Laguna.
On Sunday, Senator Imee also said that she was unsure whether she is still part of the Alyansa, and that she had not talked with PBBM yet regarding the matter.
Despite this, she said that if that is the case, she is okay with being removed from the slate, reiterating her independence as a candidate for the midterm polls.