After getting vp’s endorsement: Imee speaks out on “ITIM” ad

CEBU, Philippines — Senator Imee Marcos visited Cebu, yesterday, a day after her endorsement by Vice President Sara Duterte dubbed as “ITIM” or Ipaglaban Tayo ni Imee Marcos.

In a press conference yesterday, Marcos said that the endorsement of the vice president of her reelection came unexpectedly, along with Duterte’s choice of “itim” or black as the campaign’s theme color.

“Strangely, at least to me, the vice president said that it has to be black. I said, what kind of political ad is in black? What are we going to do? Why black? Because black is the color of the country today, and I suppose she's right. And as a result, we shot the entire thing dressed in black, which I thought was rather grim, but at the same time, it's entirely appropriate. So that's what happened,” she said regarding her latest political advertisement.

The advertisement was just suddenly shot last Saturday.

Marcos, an independent senatorial candidate, said Duterte’s support will strengthen her bid for a second term.

“Well, alam naman natin talagang pinakikinggan ng ating vice president, lalo andito tayo sa Cebu, sa Mindanao. Malaking bagay talaga ito, malaking tulog. Sabi ko nga, kami naman ang magkaibigan noong umpisa dahil sa 2019, siya nangampanya para sa amin halos araw-araw. Nangampanya kami sa lahat ng kasuluk-sulukan and it went on.

“Thereafter, ang palagay ko, ako nagpahamak sa kanya. Kasi re-recruit ko nga, hindi ko na makakalain na magkakaganito. Kahit ano pa man nangyari, hindi naman siya nagbabago. Nanatili pa rin siya ang kaibigan ko. At kilala naman niya ako, kilala ko rin siya. Kilala namin ang isa't-isa, hindi ko siya bibiguin, hindi rin niya ako kailanman binibigo,” said Marcos.

The senator was in Cebu as guest speaker of the 50th Anniversary of Kabataan Barangay. After that she went to the T. Padilla Public Market in Cebu City for the meet and greet with market vendors and stall owners, then went to MO2 in Mandaue City for another meet and greet with her supporters. — (FREEMAN)