SEN. Imee Marcos yesterday bolted from the administration’s “Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas” senatorial slate, citing “actions” taken by the administration of her younger brother, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., which she said contradicts her “ideals and principles.”
The senator made the announcement in a Facebook video post with the title, “Pahayag sa Pagkalas sa Alyansa.”
In the post, the reelectionist senator cited the actions of Cabinet officials who attended last week’s hearing of the Committee on Foreign Relations, which she chairs, on the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte last March 11.
She scored the officials for allegedly hiding the truth by invoking executive privilege.
“Sa patuloy nilang pagbanggit ng executive privilege at sub judice rule — kahit sa mga pagkakataong walang malinaw na kaugnayan ang mga ito sa tanong na ibinabato — ang mga kinatawan ng gobyerno sa pagdinig ng Senado noong nakaraang linggo ay mistulang nagtatago ng mahahalagang katotohanan (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.
She added: “Paulit-ulit nilang hirit (na) sumusunod lamang ang bansa sa pandaigdigang kasunduan… 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 (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).”
She vowed to reveal alleged violations committed by authorities that she said she supposedly discovered during the hearing that she initiated to determine the legality of the government’s implementation of the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in relation to the crimes against humanity case filed against Duterte.
“Malinaw na may mga hakbang na ginawa ang administrasyon na salungat sa aking mga paninindigan at prinsipyo (Clearly there were actions taken by the administration which run counter to my ideals and principles,” Marcos said.
“Dahil dito, hindi ko na magagawang mangampanya at tumuntong sa iisang entablado kasama ang iba pang kasapi ng Alyansa. Tulad ng aking sinabi mula sa simula ng panahon ng halalan, mananatili akong independyente (I cannot stand on the same campaign platform as the rest of the Alyansa. As I have stated from the outset of the election period, I will continue to maintain my independence),” she also said.
She added: “Higit sa anumang pulitikal na pakinabang, dapat manaig ang soberanya ng bansa at ang tunay na katarungan para sa bawat Pilipino (Over and above political advantage, the sovereignty of the country and the interest of true justice for every Filipino must remain paramount).”
Even prior to the hearing, Marcos had already slammed the government for supposedly violating the rights of Duterte when it allowed the ICC, through the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), to assume jurisdiction over the former president despite Manila’s withdrawal from the Rome Statute.
The senator’s move came after the president did not mention her name during the Alyansa’s campaign sorties in Cavite and Laguna last week when he endorsed the administration’s senatorial candidates.
Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco, Alyansa’s campaign manager, said he respects the senator’s decision to leave the administration ticket.
“We respect Senator Imee’s decision. We wish her luck in the campaign,” he said. – With Wendell Vigillia
