Despite her perceived closeness to Vice President Sara Duterte, reelectionist Senator Imee Marcos said she will not recuse herself from the impeachment trial.

“Well, I don’t think it’s necessary,” Marcos told reporters during a press briefing at the Senate on Tuesday, February 18.

“You can be close to a person; I’m very close to the President as well—he’s my brother. I’m clearly related to a number of officials, as you well know, both in the Congress and as well in local governments,” she pointed out.

“But I think we are fully aware of our duties as a senator. We’ll study all of the evidences that will be provided and rule and vote on all that is exactly as presented,” she stressed.

Nevertheless, Marcos, who is a senatorial candidate of the administration-backed Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas, said she is acceding to Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero’s request for the senators to refrain from making any statements or remarks about the issue.

“Nabigla lang ako sa umpisa, na sinabi ko lalabanan ko yan (impeachment) hanggang dulo (I was just shocked at the beginning when I said that I will fight it until the end),” she said.

“Pero ibig kong sabihin, lalabanan dahil kaibigan or kapatid. Lalabanan ko kasi ayoko ng gulo, ayoko rin ng destabilisation, ng revolutionary government. Ayoko rin ng Bongbong resign, ayoko rin ng ICC (International Criminal Court), (What I meant then was I will fight because she’s a friend or brother. I will fight, because I don’t want chaos, I don’t want destabilization plots, of revolutionary government. I don’t like calls for Bongbong to resign, I also don’t want the ICC coming here),” she explained.

“Ano man gulo ayoko, dahil ang hirap-hirap na ng buhay, pwede ba bumalik na tayo sa totoong problema ng tao, presyo ng bigas at gas, bumalik sa kakulangan ng trabaho (I don’t want any chaos, because life is hard, let’s just go back to the real problems of people, price of rice and gasoline, let’s talk about the lack of job),” she said.

Marcos also affirmed she is studying the case during her free time. At the same time, she will withhold any comments regarding the impeachment timeline or whether there is a need for the Senate to immediately act on the case.