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ILOCOS NORTE, Philippines – How would you welcome a Poe-Marcos win in the 2016 elections?
A reporter asked Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos this when she joined independent presidential candidate Grace Poe on Thursday, February 11, at a forum with students in Batac, the hometown of her late father dictator Ferdinand Marcos.
Imee’s younger brother, Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr, is running for vice president. In the same venue – the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) – on Tuesday he launched his campaign with standard-bearer Miriam Defensor Santiago.
The governor replied, in jest: “How about Marcos-Marcos for the top two positions?”
It was a reference to the decades-old rumor that Grace Poe, a foundling adopted by actors Fernando Poe Jr and Susan Roces, could be the daughter of the late dictator Marcos.
Imee later clarified that they have been used to jokingly call Grace Poe their “kabsat” (Ilocano for sibling).
Poe didn’t hear Imee’s teasing, but when she was asked for a reaction, she laughed and said, “Sinabi niya ‘yun? Si Manang talaga!” (She really said that? Naughty sister!)
Manang is Ilocano for older sister and is also used as a term of respect for older women.
Turning serious, Poe downplayed talks that the Marcos clan, believed to be able to consolidate a Solid North vote, is secretly supporting her candidacy instead of Bongbong’s standard-bearer Miriam Santiago.
“Si Governor Imee ay boluntaryong pinuntahan kami dito para ipakita din ang kanyang probinsiya. Matagal na rin naman naming silang kilala. At saka wala namang Marcos na tumatakbo bilang pangulo,” Poe said.
(Governor Imee came here voluntarily to show us around her province. And also, we’ve known each other for a long time. Besides, there’s no Marcos running for president.)
Poe said she just came to re-introduce herself to the Ilocanos, recalling how she frequented the province with her late father, actor Fernando poe Jr.
On Thursday, Poe came with her senatorial candidate Isko Moreno. Her running mate, Senator Francis Escudero, did not join her in Ilocos Norte and instead went to Ilocos Sur.
Joining Poe at MMSU, Imee was asked if she was supporting Poe. “Bukas talaga ang aming isipan, pero andiyan si Miriam dahil siya ang ka-tandem ni Bongbong.” (We’re open-minded, but Miriam is there and she is Bongbong’s tandem.) She said the family welcomes any candidate who visits their province.
Poe told reporters that their family ties with the Marcoses have been there for a long time.
Poe once more denied rumors that she could be the senior Marcos’ son.
“Matagal nang tsismis ‘yan at hindi po totoo ‘yun. Meron akong mga kamag-anak na nasasaktan diyan. Pero para sa akin ang magandang naidulot nito ay kahit papaano nakilala ko rin na naging supportive rin si Senator Bongbong, dito sa mga issue ng ganito, na parang sinasabi niya na huwag kang susuko, at sinasabi rin niya na ako willing naman ako magpa-test pero wala naman talagang basehan,” she said.
(That’s a long-running rumor about us and that is not true. I have relatives who are hurt by that. But the good this brought about is I realized Senator Bongbong is supportive of me, telling me I should not be discouraged, and he was even willing to undergo a DNA test with me, but there really is no basis for doing that.)
Poe is facing disqualification cases for allegedly not being natural-born Filipino. – Rappler.com
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