Marcoses not keen on Imee running for Senate

October 21, 2017 Provincial

LAOAG CITY, ILOCOS NORTE – The Marcos family is not yet keen, at least for this time, on Gov. Imee Marcos’ plan to run for a Senate seat.
Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos said they have yet to discuss any plans to run for higher office, saying that the ongoing electoral protest of her brother and former Senator Ferdinand “Bong Bong” Marcos (BBM) is most important.
Rumors have swarmed online on the lady governor’s intention to run for senator in 2019 through groups like the 68,000-strong “Imee Marcos for Senator Movement”.
Other groups have begun promoting an all-girl lineup for 2019, including Marcos, former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, and Cebu 3rd District Rep. Gwendolyn Fiel Garcia.
Former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. reportedly stated earlier this month that “she’d (Imee) make a great Senator. Imee is very, very, very competent. Kayang-kaya niya.”
But the lady governor maintains, “Hindi pa namin alam kung ano ang plano. Malabo, kasi tutok tayong lahat doon sa kaso ni Bong Bong. Iyon ang pinakamahalaga.”
“If ever I run for any office, pag-uusapan pa sa pamilya, but as of now we haven’t talked about it,” she said.
The Marcos family is predicting a rapid momentum of the electoral protest of Marcos Jr. against Vice President Leni Robredo following the House of Representatives’ impeachment of Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chair Andres “Andy” Bautista.
Lawyer Vic Rodriguez, a Marcos spokesperson, claimed “137 members of Congress took a patriotic stand and rose above personal and political agenda when they voted to impeach Comelec Chairman Andy Bautista. The attempts to bury the truth behind the systematic cheating in the 2016 elections… can now be revealed. Indeed, the wheels of justice grind slowly but they grind exceedingly fine.”
Marcos Jr. had expressed that he is counting on the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) to be more efficient in handling his electoral protest.
“Yung nanay ko ay stockholder na ata sa Baclaran Church kakasimba, para lang ma-resolve na yung election protest in BBM,” Governor Marcos said while reiterating how important her brother’s case is to the family
Meantime, Governor Marcos was chosen as “SMI hall of famer Outstanding Governor” for the third consecutive year by Superbrands Marketing Inc. (SMI).
“Talaga namang tuwang-tuwa ako, at hindi ko inaakalang magiging three-time awardee ako. So first time, tuwang-tuwa ako. Second, big surprise. Ngayon, talagang nasindak ako. Hall of fame na daw ang pangalan, so I’m very thrilled,” she said.
Marcos was first a recipient of the award in September 2015, earning the title again in March 2016.
SMI as an award-giving body recognizes quality governance throughout the country, particularly considering achievements in inclusive growth and public accountability.
Senior Provincial Board Member Matthew Marcos Manotoc, youngest son of the governor, was also awarded this year as Outstanding Local Legislator.
Governor Marcos added, “I am even more excited dahil yung anak ko, kasama din na Best Local Legislator… eh masipag naman yung bata kaya natutuwa akong naparangalan. Sana ganahan pa siya at kaming mag-ina ay puspusan na magtatrabaho.”
“Salamat sa patuloy na suporta sa pamilya namin na hindi humuhupa, kaya na-inspire kami na todo-todo pa rin ang pas-pas dur-as (mabilis na progreso)!”
Paspas Dur-as, tagline of Governor Marcos, is being fulfilled through the provincial vision “Pasingkedan ti Kinatan-ok ni Ilocano!” which started when she took office back in 2010. The program includes agricultural projects, a focus on infrastructure, employment services, medical assistance, and scholarships, among others.
With early experience in local governance and youth engagement, the governor initiated the 2014 Sirib Express, a flagship program for the youth which is today known as the Ilocos Norte Youth Development Office (INYDO), an official Capitol department that is pushing now for the creation of YDOs in every city and municipality of the province.
Her employment campaign, Task Force Trabaho, generated over 50,000 jobs which contributed to Ilocos Norte’s lowest poverty incidence rate (15%) in Region One in 2016. Meanwhile she continues inviting investors to set up businesses in Ilocos Norte and create more local jobs.
Tourist arrivals remain high with the “Paoay Kumakaway” tourism program, also by the governor, bringing more tourists with the Star Cruises Superstar Virgo docking in Currimao Port. Per records, there has been a 684.06% increase in day visitors from 2012 to 2016.
These initiatives, sustained even up to her third term as governor, earned Marcos her third Outstanding Governor award from SMI. Earlier this year, she received a Medal of Distinction for significant achievements in public service from the Golden Globe Annual Awards Council. ACE ALEGRE / ABN