MANILA — Senator Imee Marcos said Tuesday she was not changing her surname, despite the ribbing of Vice President Sara Duterte, who has gone from running mate to critic of the lawmaker's brother President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.

This, after Duterte told Sen. Marcos in jest to change her last name during a Manila campaign sortie.

"Sa palagay ko, hindi ako dapat magpalit kasi tapat ako sa turo ng aking ama," Marcos told reporters.

Marcos admitted she was facing difficulties in her re-election bid because of her family name and her continued alliance with the Dutertes.

The senator has hit the Marcos administration's decision to surrender former president Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court.

She, however, believes there is a protest vote in the works for Halalan 2025.

"Umiikot na ako at kinakausap 'yung ilang chief executive sa ating Visayas at Mindanao nanggaling pa lang ako sa Cebu. At maski dito sa ating area ng Greater Manila, 'yung matitibay na mga opisyal, nakawalang katalo-talo na halos nuisance candidate lang ang kalaban, ay kinakabahan kasi may sinasaging protest vote," Sen. Marcos said. 

"Galit at talagang nagdadamdam lalo na 'yung Cebuano-speaking areas. Kapag kaalyado ng administrasyon, hindi gawain ng Pilipino ang mang-api ng matanda na may sakit," she said.

Marcos also said that despite hoping for the protest vote, she is still unsure if she would benefit from it.

"Hindi ko rin alam kasi Marcos pa rin ang apelyido ko. So, kaliwa't kanan ang tama ako, nahihirapan po ako," she said.

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