MANILA, Philippines – On her first day at work, Senator Imee Marcos said she initially did not want to be a senator but the “changes” under the Duterte administration made her think otherwise. 

“I don’t want to be a senator. Subalit noong naupo si President [Rodrigo] Duterte, gusto ko na ring maging senador kasi maraming pagbabago. Maraming kinakailangan batas…. Biglang naging exciting kaya ngayon ganado na ako,” she said as she spoke to Senate employees during the flag raising on Monday, July 1.

(I don’t want to be a senator. But when President Rodrigo Duterte came into office, I wanted to become a senator because there are a lot of changes. There are a lot of laws needed…. It suddenly became exciting, so now I’m energized.)

Marcos said that she has always been invited to run for Senate since 2003, but thought she was “not fit” to be part of the institution.

“Parang hindi ako masyadong bagay. Hindi ako kumbinsido na gusto kong pumunta rito. Matagal na rin ang aking karanasan sa Congress. Masaya naman doon, barkadahan, pero parang hindi ko maintindihan bakit ako napunta sa Senate,” she said.

(I thought I didn’t fit in here. I wasn’t convinced to go here. I’ve been in Congress for a long time. It was fun there, we were like friends, but I don’t understand why I am in the Senate now.)

Marcos, a Duterte ally, also supported the President, saying she doesn’t think he committed any impeachable offenses over the Recto Bank (Reed Bank) incident.

“Wala namang impeachable offense. Nako, ‘wag na nating pag-usapan ‘yan dahil wala naman tayong nakikitang dahilan,” she told reporters on Monday.

(He did not commit any impeachable offense. Let’s not talk about it because I don’t see any reason to.)

Senators on Monday started filing 10 pet bills according to seniority. 

Marcos, a newbie senator, will file hers during the last batch, together with senators Christopher “Bong” Go, Francis Tolentino, and Ronald dela Rosa. 

She said she will be filing bills on taxes, particularly on the internal revenue allotment for local governments; a bill on term extension for barangay officials until 2022; and a bill seeking to protect LGBTQ+ rights. – Rappler.com