Imee mum on threats vs brother
Metro Manila, Philippines – Presidential sister and Sen. Imee Marcos made little to no comment on the threats against her brother President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. amid ongoing investigations into the issue.
“Ayoko na mag-comment dyan. Kasi dinaragdagan lang natin ang init at puro speculative naman iyong mga pinagsasabi,” Marcos told DWIZ 822 when asked if she is bothered with the safety of the president.
[Translation: I don’t want to comment on that. We’re just adding fuel to the fire and everything that’s being said is speculative]
In a midnight briefing last week, Vice President Sara Duterte said she already asked someone to kill Marcos, his wife Liza Araneta, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez if she herself gets murdered. Duterte made these remarks amid the order to transfer her detained chief of staff, Zuleika Lopez, from the House facility to the women’s prison in Mandaluyong City.
A day after these statements, the senator paid a visit to Lopez at the Veterans Memorial Medical center in Quezon City, where she was confined.
Marcos said they have always been exposed to threats as someone who grew up with a family in politics.
Despite Duterte’s tirades against the president, the vice president maintained a close relationship with the presidential sister. Asked if she is aware of supposed threats to Duterte, Marcos did not directly address the matter.
“Sa palagay ko hindi naman kailangan banggitin pa nino man na may banta sa buhay ng isang Duterte. Tulad ng isang Marcos, lagi naman may banta sa mga buhay namin. Kaya may security kami,” she said.
[Translation: I don't think it's necessary to mention that anyone's life is under threat, especially that of a Duterte. Like the Marcoses, there have always been threats to our lives. That's why we have security]
Marcos, who’s seeking a fresh seat in the Senate, opted to run independent despite being included in the administration’s list.
Asked if she’s still seeing possible reconciliation between her brother and Duterte, the lawmaker said it’s entirely up to them.
The vice president earlier said that she and Marcos have reached a "point of no return," to which the president responded, "Never say never."
Meanwhile, the older Marcos also believes the House will push through to impeach Duterte despite the president saying it’s a waste of time. The lower chamber is led by Marcos’ cousin, Martin Romualdez.
“Abala ako dito sa impeachment na ipapadala ng Kongreso sa susunod na linggo dahil mukhang itutuloy naman nila at iyong talaga ang plano at very polarizing ito, watak watak na nga tayo,” the senator said.
[Translation: I'm worried about the impeachment that Congress will send next week because it looks like they will push through with it and that’s really the plan, and it’s very polarizing. We're already divided as it is]
A number of House leaders repeatedly denied any impeachment plot against Duterte.
NewsWatch Plus correspondent Lance Mejico contributed to this report
