Vice President Sara Duterte endorses Sen. Imee Marcos' reelection bid. From Sen. Marcos' Facebook

MANILA — Sen. Imee Marcos on Tuesday denied that the endorsement of Vice President Sara Duterte of her Senate reelection bid was a "reward" for initiating the probe into the arrest of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte.

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According to Sen. Marcos, sister of President Ferdinand Marcos, the idea to endorse her may have come from the former president himself.

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"Ay hindi ko naisip yun [at] hindi rin niya naisip. Talagang nag-uusap na kami noon-noon pa... Pagbalik niya sa Hague inutusan yata sila ni Sen. Robin ni Presidente Duterte na mangampanya at tulungan ang mga kasangga. Yun ang nangyari," Sen. Marcos said.

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In a video posted on Sen. Marcos' Facebook page on Monday, the senator and Duterte were seen together wearing black to "mourn" the state of the country "burdened by crime and hunger."

BRAINS BEHIND 'MOURNING' THEME

The concept of "itim" as a symbol of mourning came from Duterte, Sen. Marcos said.

"Eh yun na nga, sabi ko nga, eh bakit nga ba itim? Eh siya nagpupumiglas na talagang kinakailangan itim. Pagkat ang sabi niya, nagluluksa ang bansa at maraming naghihirap, gutom na ang sikmura, gutom pa sa hustisya... Kaya para sa kanya, luksa daw," Sen. Marcos said.

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"Siya (VP Sara) ang nagsasabi na wala siya sa mood, na talagang itim at luksa ang pakiramdam ng nakararami katulad niya... At parang totoo nga naman, parang hindi naman angkop na magsayaw-sayaw," she added.

In a press briefing Tuesday, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Sen. Marcos and Duterte appeared to be pertaining to the administration of the latter's father when they described the country's color as black.

'NAIPAHAMAK KO SYA'

Marcos said the endorsement was borne out of their friendship which she said has endured challenges.

She also admitted that she may have "harmed" her friend when she convinced her to run as vice president along with her brother.

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"Simula't sapul, kaming dalawa naman talagang magkaibigan at kahit papano, aminado ako na naipahamak ko siya... Parang sinisisi ko rin ang sarili ko kasi parang dinamay ko siya sa gulo. Nananahimik na siya. Nag-file na siya bilang mayor ng Davao, kinaladkad ko pa at sinabi ko, sige na, mag-vice sa president ka. Hindi ko naman akalain kailanman na hahantong sa ganito," Sen. Marcos said.

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"Hindi niya ako binigo at hindi ko rin siya bibiguin," she added.

Sen. Marcos said she was still puzzled why the administration chose to "crush" even those who helped them from the start.

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"Medyo na-trauma ako doon sa nangyayari. Hanggang ngayon, di ko pa rin talaga maintindihan bakit kinakailangan durugin ang hindi kaalyado, na kaalyado naman sa umpisa," she said.

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