STA. ROSA, Laguna — For the second time, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. did not include his elder sister, Senator Imee Marcos, as he endorsed the Alyansa Para Sa Bagong Pilipinas’ 11 senatorial candidates during a rally on Saturday.
Marcos Jr. Emphasizes 11 Candidates, Leaving Out Imee
In his speech, the president referred to the administration’s slate as having only 11 members, further fueling speculations that Imee is no longer part of the coalition.
“Let us unite for our alliance. Let us not turn the Alyansa into a coalition of ten, 11 persons, 11 candidates running for senator with the Alyansa,” he told supporters.
He encouraged unity among the members of the alliance and assured them that their goal remains to “improve the lives of every Filipino.”
Snubbed for the Second Time
Senator Marcos was absent from the rally, and this was not the first time she was left out. A day prior, the president also failed to mention his sister during a campaign event in Trece Martires City, Cavite.
Although Imee is officially part of the administration’s Senate lineup, the president praised the track record of all other candidates—except her.
Connection to Duterte’s Arrest
Senator Marcos is one of three senatorial candidates who were reportedly unhappy about the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
However, unlike Marcos, the two other candidates—Sen. Pia Cayetano and Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar—were still mentioned by the president, even though Villar was not present at the event.
Imee Brushes Off the Issue
When asked about the apparent snub, Imee Marcos dismissed it, saying:
“It’s okay, after all, I already said that I would focus on investigating the illegal events that took place when former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte was taken.”
She emphasized that her priority remains on the extradition case of Duterte, whom the government handed over to a foreign institution.
No Official Removal from the Slate
The original Alyansa senatorial lineup includes:
- Imee Marcos
- Camille Villar
- Pia Cayetano
- Former Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos
- Makati City Mayor Abby Binay
- Sens. Ramon Revilla Jr., Lito Lapid, and Francis Tolentino
- Former Sens. Panfilo Lacson, Manny Pacquiao, and Vicente Sotto III
- ACT-CIS Rep. Erwin Tulfo
Despite Marcos Jr.’s omission of Imee, Alyansa campaign manager Toby Tiangco stated that there are no plans to remove anyone from the ticket.
Meanwhile, Villar, who skipped the last two rallies due to illness, was seen campaigning in Caloocan City with local candidates on Saturday.
