US President-elect Donald Trump (left), Imelda Marcos (Facebook)

House Deputy Majority Leader Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre has reminded Filipinos--or at least those in the know--that former first lady Imelda Marcos and United States (US) President-elect Donald Trump are actually long-time pals.

Acidre made this remark amid the perception that a new Donald Trump presidency would be disadvantageous to the administration of President Marcos, Imelda's son.

This perception mainly has to do with the supposed tight friendship between former president Rodrigo Duterte and incumbent leader Marcos. Duterte is a Marcos critic.

"For me, it's a simplistic appreciation na sasabihin na kaibigan si Trump at si president Duterte. Pwede ko din namang sabihin na magkaibigan din si Trump at ang dating unang ginang Imelda Marcos, di po ba?" Acidre said in a press conference Wednesday, Nov. 6 after a reporter pointed out the Duterte-Trump friendship.

(For me, it's a simplistic appreciation to say that Trump and president Duterte are friends. I can also say that Trump and former first lady Imelda Marcos are friends, right?)

"'Di depende na lang kung sino yung magkakaibigan talaga (So the outcome would depend on who truly are friends)," he said.

Trump, the Republican nominee in the 2024 US election, was yet to be called the winner at the time of the presser, although he had already gained a considerable lead in electoral college votes over Democrat Kamala Harris.

The Marcos family has been friends with Trump since the latter's days as a budding real estate mogul in New York.

Trump served as America's 45th president from 2017 to 2021, during which he was able to connect with then-Philippine president Duterte. 

At any rate, Acidre said that it's "too simplistic to say that the US policies are determined by particular individuals in Philippine politics. I dont think that is a fair assesment."

"We can only hope that the next president of US would be more supportive of the 

policies that would benefit eventually the Philippines and the other alleys of the US," noted the Visayan.

"But to be honest, its not for us to say, kasi hindi naman tayo mga Amerikano, eleksyon nila yun (because we're not Americans, that's their election)," he said.

Trump was deemed president-elect for the second time a few hours later.