Senator Imee Marcos did not join the administration-backed Senate slate Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas in its grand rally in Tacloban City yesterday.

In a statement on her Facebook page, Senator Marcos, the elder sister of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., cited the recent arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte as the reason for her decision.

“I cannot accept what was done to FPRRD (former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte),” the senator said.

The administration’s senatorial slate wooed voters in Tacloban City in a bid to consolidate support in Leyte, a province with 1.4 million registered voters and a political bailiwick of the Marcos family.

Duterte was arrested last Tuesday on charges filed in the International Criminal Court. He is facing crime against humanity charges linked to his administration’s war on drugs where thousands were killed.

According to Senator Marcos, she is reviewing the circumstances surrounding Duterte’s arrest to seek a “truthful solution” to the situation.

‘Friend’

The senator has been very vocal about her “friendship” with Duterte.

In 2018, Marcos vowed to defend the former chief executive who was at the time being criticized by her counterparts in the House of Representatives over the his tirades against them.

“I repeat, in 2015, I was the first and the only government official who declared support for President Duterte. And even if I’m the only one left, I would remain standing for him,” Senator Marcos said.

As the eldest child of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos Sr., the senator asserted that she would never be silenced against those who are “betraying” the former president who respected her father and permitted his burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (Heroes Cemetery).

“He was asked before if the only reason he permitted the burial of my father was because I am his friend,” Senator Marcos said.

“His answer before is my answer now: Not only because PRRD is my friend but he is really my friend, especially Inday Sara. They are my friends in keeping the peace and in fighting evil forces that spread corruption, hunger, and traitorship.”

In 2016, then President Duterte permitted the burial of Marcos’ father at the Libingan ng mga Bayani despite the opposition of human rights groups, particularly the families and victims of martial law.