Senator Imee Marcos at the Senate committee on foreign relations hearing on the locations of EDCA (Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement) sites on April 19, 2023. Mark Demayo ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Sen. Imee Marcos on Monday clarified that she will be seeking reelection outside the Alyansa Para Sa Bagong Pilipinas, the slate formed by the country's major political parties and endorsed by her brother President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.

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President Marcos Jr. has said he respects his elder sister's decision and that the administration alliance "is still behind her and [is still] continuing to support her", adding Sen. Marcos is welcome to join their campaign sorties and rallies.

During a press conference at the Senate, Marcos was asked to elaborate on her plan for next year's polls amid confusion that she was withdrawing from the race.

She said that she made the decision to make clear that she is not playing on both sides of the rift between the Marcos and Duterte factions of the now dissolved UniTeam alliance formed for the 2022 presidential race.

Sen. Marcos, who is identified with the Dutertes, said she wants to be a bridge between the two factions.

"It's a tremendous sacrifice to stand alone but I need to be free to cross the line to talk to all parties and to get things done," Marcos said. 

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"Uniteam was a dream that I shared in 2022 and I hold fast to that dream of unity for all Filipinos," she added.

Marcos explained that while she has no problem accepting an invitation to join the slate's sorties, she is concerned that it may lead to attacks against friends, especially those to whom they owe a debt of gratitude.

Marcos also maintained she doesn't want to be caught between the feuding parties, referring to her family and the Dutertes. 

"Siyempre ang gusto mo mangyari pagbatiin sila, magkausap sila at ikaw na ang magiging daan para doon... Ang akin talaga eh talagang kailangan na tumayo nang mag-isa para yung tama ang gagawin, wala nang kakampihan at wala nang alitan."

(Of course, what I want is for them to settle their differences... For me, I have to stand alone so there will be no taking sides and no fighting) 

MARCOS VS MARCOS IN ILOCOS?

Marcos maintained she and her brother have not had a falling out, dismissing talk that their children may end up running against each other in the family bailiwick of Ilocos Norte.

"[S]a totoo lang mahal na mahal namin si Bongbong. Ever since siya ang pinakamabait sa aming lahat eh, atsaka iisang lalake yan, ading ko pa kaya di naman kami kailanman nagkaalitan," she said.

(The truth is we all love Bongbong. Ever since, he has been the kindest among us, and he is the only son. He is my younger sibling as well, so there is no reason for us to ever have a falling out)

He added their children will never run against each other.

"Si Sandro magpapare-elect, si Matt magre-reelect, eh iba naman yung posisyon ng dalawa," Marcos added, referring to Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand Alexander Marcos — the President's son — and her son, Ilocos Norte Gov. Matthew Manotoc. 

(Sandro is seeking reelection and Matt is seeking reelection, and they have different positions)

While Sen. Marcos won't personally attack her brother, she maintained others around him would be fair game.

Marcos said her mother, former First Lady Imelda Marcos, was saddened by her decision to withdraw from the administration slate.

Marcos said she still eeds to talk to her political party, the Nacionalista Party of Sen. Cynthia Villar, which is part of the administration alliance. 

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