Senator Imee Marcos posted another video on Tuesday, March 31, this time apologizing to Vice President Sara Duterte, admitting she feels responsible for drawing her into national politics.

In the video posted on her Facebook page, captioned "Ipinahamak ko siya…Imee and Inday Sara,” Marcos apologized to the Dutertes, mainly to the Vice President, where she acknowledged feelings of guilt over her role in encouraging Duterte to run for a national position in 2021.

“Hihingi rin siguro ako ng tawad sa mga Duterte, higit sa lahat sa VP natin. Kay Inday Sara. Pinahamak ko siya eh (I suppose I should also ask forgiveness from the Dutertes, especially from our Vice President, Inday Sara. I put her in harm’s way),” Marcos said, adding that she has been reflecting on the consequences of that decision.

Marcos said she believes Duterte could have remained in Davao City as mayor, away from the pressures and conflicts of national politics, even describing a scenario where Duterte would have faced fewer political challenges.

She admitted that at the time, Duterte had no intention of seeking a national post and was already set to run again for mayor. Marcos said she was among those who urged Duterte to consider a broader role, citing public expectations and support.

In the video, the senator said she feels “guilty” over how events have unfolded, acknowledging that her encouragement may have contributed to the difficulties Duterte currently faces.

Despite the apology, Marcos noted that the vice presidency still provides Duterte with a platform to serve and advocate, even amid political challenges.

The video seems to be the second part of the senator's Holy Week video series on reflection, repentance, and forgiveness. Her video a day before centered on apologizing to her father, the late former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr. for failure to watch over her brother, President Marcos.

Senator Marcos is widely credited for the “UniTeam” alliance, the political partnership between President Marcos and Vice President Duterte that dominated the 2022 national elections. Formed in late 2021, the alliance brought together two of the country’s most influential political families and campaigned on a message of unity and continuity.

Senator Marcos played a key role in encouraging Duterte to join the national race despite her initial plans to remain in local government. The Marcos-Duterte ticket went on to secure a decisive victory, widely seen as one of the strongest electoral mandates in recent years.

Yet the tandem crumbled slowly in the past years between the two and showed signs of strain as early as 2023. Their rift became more pronounced in 2024 when Duterte resigned from her Cabinet posts, a move widely seen as a turning point that signaled a clear break from the Marcos administration. This was followed by increasingly public exchanges between allies on both sides.