TACLOBAN, Leyte -- Senatorial candidate and Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos on Sunday visited this city in her mother's home province and denied rumors of a rift with her cousin Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, who is running for Congress.

Romualdez's wife Leyte Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez posted online last week a list of administration-backed candidates supported by party-list Tingog Sinirangan, where she is first nominee. Marcos was not on the list.

Marcos replied in the affirmative when asked if she was on good terms with her cousin, who did not accompany her during her campaign sortie here.

"Oo naman (of course). He is just out of town," she told reporters.

Marcos also denied that she favors other regional parties like An Waray over that of her cousin's wife.

"I think it’s the other way around. I’m thanking everyone who’s supporting me, sometimes mayors on opposite side, sometimes governors on the other side and even party-lists on opposite sides, are really supporting me," she said.

Marcos was accompanied by another cousin, mayoralty candidate Alfred Romualdez, as she shook hands with the crowds at Tacloban Fishport.

TRIUMPH FOR MARTIAL LAW VICTIMS

During a press conference, the governor dodged questions on a US court's decision to award an additional $10 million to the victims of rights abuses under the regime of her father, the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos.

"Siguro kailangan mga lawyers sumagot niyan," she said.

(Perhaps the lawyers need to answer that.)

Judge Manuel Real signed an order on March 28 approving a third distribution of funds, this time US$1,500 for each of 6,500 registered victims of Marcos’ martial law atrocities, according to American human rights lawyer Robert Swift. This amounts to roughly $9.75 million or more than P500 million.

The ruling came after Real granted a $13.75-million settlement charged against the proceeds of the sale of seized art pieces once owned by Marcos’ widow, Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos.

• US court OKs new distribution of $10 million to Marcos martial law victims