Senator Imee Marcos on Sunday admitted that their camp is still hopeful that President Duterte would one day finally agree to endorse the candidacy of her brother former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr.
The senator said that while Marcos, Jr. is leading the presidential surveys for the upcoming May 2022 elections, Duterte’s endorsement will undoubtedly secure her brother a huge lead against his other rivals in the presidential race.
“Leading na leading na siya...pero para sa amin, malaking bagay ‘yun kasi kahit papano ang boto namin ay dito sa Luzon, samantalang yung endorsement ni Presidente eh pra talaga sa Mindanao (He is already leading but to us, it is a huge factor, because most of our supporters are here in Luzon, while the President’s endorsement can help us convince voters in Mindanao),” Marcos said in an interview on DZRH.
“So malaking bagay talaga numerically (So it’s a big factor, numerically). But at the same time, sentimentally, the same,” she said.
“Hindi naman kami nahiwalay sa panig ng administrasyon at kasama natin si Mayor Inday Sara. Maganda sana kung pati ang ama ay kasama na rin (We never left the administration's side and his daughter Mayor Inday Sara is with us. It would be good if the father is also with us),” added Marcos.
Marcos, Jr. has forged an alliance with the Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte through UniTeam. Both are running for president and vice president, respectively, in the upcoming May polls.
Nevertheless, Senator Marcos noted and is pleased that the President has not endorsed any other presidential candidate.
“Kung sabagay di naman siya nangangampanya sa iba, so tanggapin na lang natin yung timing ni Presidente Duterte at baka gusto niya na malaya mamili ang lahat (Anyway, he is not campaigning for the others, so let’s just accept President Duterte’s timing and maybe he wants the people to freely choose the next leader),” she stressed.
Duterte previously said he would not endorse any presidential candidate unless there is a compelling reason to do so, as he prefers to be neutral.
But Duterte has said that a decisive and compassionate lawyer would be an ideal president for the Philippines.