Imee eyeing Senate post

CEBU, Philippines — Ilocos Norte Governor Maria Imelda Josefa “Imee” Marcos, daughter of former president of the Philippines Ferdinand Marcos and former First lady Imelda Marcos, may run for the Senate in the 2019 midterm elections.

However, she said their family has yet to decide who between her and her brother, former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., will run for the senatorial seat.

Their family has not decided yet, as Bongbong has a pending election protest filed against Vice President Leni Robredo.

“It might,” she said, in an interview at the Grand Convention after his meeting with retired Ambassador Frank Benedicto and other prominent Chinese personalities.

Imee was in Cebu yesterday after she was invited as a guest speaker of the Chinese community’s event in relation to the upcoming 40th anniversary of the release of a presidential decree allowing Chinese to become Filipino citizens.

Aside from being invited, Imee said she also visited her friends in Cebu.

Imee said the Philippines has nothing to worry and should have no reason to fear China, as they only bring friendship to our country.

“China is a good neighbor,” she said, adding the alliance of President Rodrigo Duterte with China is not new, since her father also had ties with China during the late dictator’s term.

Marcos also met with Mandaue City Mayor Gabriel Luis Quisumbing, Vice Mayor Carlo Fortuna, and the members of the City Council.

Marcos is the aunt of Elizabeth "Betsy" Romualdez Quisumbing, Luigi's mother.

"Because of my father's bill, the presidential decree which was (released) 40 years ago, Chinoys or the Filipino-Chinese could quickly acquire naturalization to become Filipino citizens," Marcos said.

“I'm actually going around to say thank you also for Bongbong.  My brother is still in the thick of a protest, right at the Supreme Court," she said. — Christell Fatima M. Tudtud (FREEMAN)