Imee Marcos withdraws from administration’s 2025 senatorial slate: 'Minabuti kong tumindig mag-isa'
Sen. Imee Marcos announced that she has withdrawn from the senatorial slate of her brother, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., for the 2025 elections.
In a video statement published on her official Facebook page, the politician thanked her brother for his support but revealed she's opting to stand alone in her reelection bid to avoid any sort of controversy towards him.
"Minabuti kong tumindig mag-isa upang huwag nang malagay sa alanganin ang aking ading (younger sibling), para 'wag nang mag-alinlangan ang aking mga tunay na kaibigan," she said.
She continued, "Pinipili ko na lamang manatiling malaya at tapat—hindi sa isang grupo, kundi sa bawat Pilipino. Bitbit ang aking mga nagawa para sa bayan nitong nakaraang termino, mga batas na aking alay sa taumbayan, at ang katotohanang hindi ako lumihis sa landas at prinsipyo ng aking Ama."
According to her, the lessons taught to her by her father, Ferdinand Marcos Sr., became factors that led to her decision.
"Tatlumpu't limang taon na ang nakalipas ngayong araw mula nung pumanaw ang ama ko, ngunit buhay na buhay ang mga aral niya sa aking puso. Kaya't bilang panganay niya, pinipili kong manindigan nang malaya't matatag, tulad niya; na wala na dapat kampihan kundi ang sambayanang Pilipino," Imee highlighted.
"Hindi madaling tumayong magisa, sa kampanya at sa pulitika… Ngunit yan ang pamana ng matanda sa akin, 'yan ang pamana ni Apo Lakay na ginugunita natin ngayon," she added.
Despite this, Imee expressed her gratitude towards her brother for including her in the administration's lineup.
"Taos-puso ang aking pasasalamat kay Pangulong Bongbong na, sa kabila ng galit at labis na kalupitan ng ilan, ako'y pinagtanggol niya, at naisama pa sa alyansa," she said.
While she also thanked the Nacionalista Party, which is part of her brother’s administration coalition, she did not specify whether she would also leave the politicial party.
Imee's withdrawal comes two days after the country's chief executive revealed the senatorial slate for the 2025 midterm polls during the Alyansa Para Sa Bagong Pilipinas Convention at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.
The slate included the following:
- Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos (PFP)
- Makati City Mayor Abby Binay (NPC)
- Senator Pia Cayetano (Nacionalista Party)
- Senator Lito Lapid (NPC)
- Senator Francis Tolentino (PFP)
- Senator Imee Marcos (Nacionalista Party)
- Senator Ramon ''Bong'' Revilla Jr. (Lakas-CMD)
- former Senator Manny Pacquiao (PFP)
- former Senator Panfilo Lacson (NPC)
- former Senator Vicente Sotto III, (NPC)
- Deputy Speaker Camille Villar (Nacionalista Party)
- former Social Welfare and Development Secretary Erwin Tulfo (Lakas-CMD)
All personalities were present during the event except for Imee.
The 2025 midterm elections will take place on May 12.
