Imee to Bicolanos: Give ‘another Marcos’ a chance

ALBAY, Philippines – Senatorial candidate Imee Marcos is hoping that Bicolanos would give her a “chance” to be part of the Senate even if they had rejected her brother in the last national elections in 2016.

“If you did not give Bongbong a chance here in Bicol in the past elections, this time maybe you can give me, or another Marcos, a chance to be in the Senate,” Imee urged Bicolanos during one of her speeches in two days of campaign sorties in vote-rich provinces Camarines Sur and Albay this week.

Bicolanos had favored Vice President Leni Robredo, who is from the region, over former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr in the 2016 elections. Bongbong has a pending electoral protest case against Robredo.

In her campaign speech in Pili, Camarines Sur, on March 13, Imee reminded  Bicolanos of what her late father, strongman Ferdinand Marcos, had done for them when he was president. She made references to her father’s legacy in Bicol, and in the province, in particular, in an apparent bid to connect with the crowd.

She said Bicol used to be so far away until the Maharlika Highway was built during her father’s time. She added that Naga Airport was constructed during the Marcos years too, as well as schoolbuildings, and irrigation systems under Masagana 99.

“Naalala pa siguro ninyo ‘yung Green Revolution, kung kaya’t ang Camarines Sur ay naging champion sa palay, champion sa bigas, at nauna sa pagtatanim ng iba’t-ibang produkto (Perhaps you still remember the Green Revolution, which is why Camarines Sur became a champion in rice production, and was ahead in planting various products),” Imee said.

In her Pili speech, she cited people associated with the Marcoses who served the province –  former Camarines Sur 3rd District congressman Luis Villafuerte Sr whom she called “Minister Louie Villafuerte, trade minister ng tatay ko, si (of my father) Ferdinand Marcos.”

Imee described former vice governor Imelda Papin – running for the same post in May – as a “dakilang (great) loyalist” of the Marcos family.

Imee is running under Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte’s Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP).

She said if elected, she would push for the suspension of the imposition of value- added tax on basic goods. She said this in the presence of reelectionist Senator Juan Edgardo Angara, who had championed the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law that expanded the VAT tax base. – Rappler.com