By Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr.
QUEZON CITY — Senator Imee Marcos on Saturday (March 22) said that there are many issues in the country now.
During the Pandesal Forum in Kamuning Bakery Cafe, Sen. Marcos said that she held the Senate hearing pertaining to the arrest of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte in order to ferret out the truth of what really transpired on that fateful day.
Marcos stressed that the investigation is in aid of legislation in order to craft appropriate and timely legislative measures in so far as the Committee on Foreign Relations is concerned.
She admitted that when she saw what happened to Duterte, she remembers her father.
The lady Senator noted that the former President stated that Filipinos need not go to The Hague, Netherlands to visit him.
Sen. Marcos would like to personally deliver the P10,000 to the former President in The Hague as he will be entitled to the benefits under the Expanded Senior Citizens Act.
Marcos was a former colleague of Duterte in the House of Representatives.
She also noted that there had been three or four former Presidents who are buried in the Libingan ng mga Bayani, including her father the late former President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Sr.
She emphasized that she has no plans to destroy the administration of his brother President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.
Marcos admitted that she was not able to join some of the campaign rallies of the senatorial candidates of the administration.
She does not mind whether her name is mentioned in the administration’campaign sorties in the sense that it’s better to address the most pressing issues the country is now facing.
Marcos surmised that she has difficulty in getting witnesses, hoping that a former justice who has expertise in the Constitution to come out and speak about the matter.
She cited the issues about the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands, a Diffusion from the Interpol as against a Red Notice, among others, that need to be clarified.
Marcos is supporting the Earth Hour, citing the DENR, MWSS, LWUA such that there should only be one water authority.
“We are rich in water but we are always thirsty. Today is the World Water Day, ” she said.
Marcos wonders how Singapore, Thailand, and Tokyo (Japan) are able to sustain their food sufficiency and food security.
She sought for help to the transport industry, and post-harvest medium.
“50 to 100 hectares of land for one rice variety only to be sold. We never invested in agricultural infrastructure,” Marcos, who is also the Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, said.
She stressed that she held the Senate public hearing not for endorsement but to defend the country’s sovereignty and to ferret out the truth about the extrajudicial rendition or kidnapping of former President Duterte.
“I am not doing this to be popular, but to determine what really happened on that fateful day of March 12, 2025,” Marcos said.
She reminisced that her father taught her not to be bothered by puzzles but to ask questions and determine issues.
On Women’s Month, Marcos said “Women have more capabilities and inclusivity is natural to Pinays. They are expert in multi-tasking. We have all the natural traits to address all problems.”
She said that the Senate is mulling to study line by line Republic Act No. 9851, especially Section 7.
“There is a call for a second hearing. There are many laws that are involved. We want a clarity and action on these,” Marcos said.
“We were not able to talk to each other for a long time. I am really have a hard time,” she said, referring to her communication with her brother President Marcos.
Sen. Marcos disagreed with the People’s Initiative. She did not sign in the ratification of the RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Protocol)
She fought for the Marcos family, especially for her father, for 36 years and she has nothing to be remorseful about.
The Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations is still looking for witnesses and resource persons if ever there will be a second public hearing.
“The more allies and friends we have the better. The Filipinos will stand and prevail for life,” Marcos said on the growing VFAs (Visiting Forces Agreements) with other countries such as Japan and Australia.
“The Presidency is a destiny. You just have to do your job and ignore the intrigues,” she added.
“I am 101% in support of the INC (Iglesia Ni Cristo) who issued an official statement in defense of the country’s sovereignty and Constitution,” Marcos said.
Sen. Marcos does not know about the Core team, where President Marcos was allegedly included who purportedly planned the arrest of the former president, which DILG Sec. Jonvic Remulla cited in an interview with Pinky Webb aired over Bilyonaryo News TV. ###
