by Miriam G. Desacada
Tacloban City–Senator Imee Marcos yesterday slammed the International Criminal Court (ICC) decision days ago to junk the appeal of the Philippine government and continue its probe into the drug war carried out by the previous Duterte administration.
Senator Imee, during her visit to Leyte yesterday, told the local journalists: “Malaking paghihimasok ito sa soberanya ng Pilipinas.” (This is a big intrusion into the sovereignty of the Philippines.)
“For me, the ICC can enter only when our country has no more courts, and the judiciary is no longer functioning,” said the senator, the elder sister of President Bongbong Marcos, Jr.
“The Philippines has an active judiciary. We have the Supreme Court, Sandigan, Ombudsman, etc, all courts are there. We have a fully functioning judiciary, so why should (the ICC) interfere with our judicial system,” said the senator.
“There is no reason for them to interfere in our internal affairs. We Filipinos must fight and insist that we are a sovereign and independent country with a judiciary that is alive and well,” Senator Imee said.
The senator said that many cases had been filed already against abusive law enforcers, many of them had been punished. There are many other pending cases in courts against erring authorities, military and police officials. “The ICC should allow our judicial system to work so that those found guilty shall be jailed,” she said.
Senator Imee, who was in Leyte to fulfill also her role as the guest speaker for the graduation ceremonies of the Eastern Visayas State University, attended the press conference with her cousin Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez who talked about the anti-insurgency efforts of the government, under its ELCAC program.
The senator then distributed financial assistance to rice farmers from Tacloban City, and the towns of Babatngon, Tanauan, Palo, Sta. Fe, Villaba, and San Isidro—all of Leyte—and the towns of Basey and Sta. Rita of Samar.
A total of 1,181 farmers received cash aid of P5,000 each with rice seeds, nursery equipment, and rain shelters. The Rice Farmers Financial Assistance was funded by the Department of Agriculture’s Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund, under Republic Act 11203 (Rice Tariffication Law).
Senator Imee did not comment on rumors that Mar Roxas, cousin of First Lady Liza, might be named the next agriculture secretary.
She however described as “Maritess creations” the speculations spread online that the Marcoses, sons of PBBM in particular, are planning to establish political foundations in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao during the 2025 elections.
The “Maritesses” rumors said that, while Sandro Marcos will settle in Luzon, one of his brothers will run for mayor in Iloilo, and their other brother in Surigao del Norte. Their adopted sibling Aimee, meanwhile, has been residing in Cagayan de Oro City since.
Senator Imee showed amusement to these rumors, saying that she was also the subject of “Maritess” which spread that she might be running either for mayor of Manila or for governor of Leyte.
“Let’s work first before politics,” was Senator Imee’s curt reply to the local reporters on these “Maritess” made-up stories. —Miriam G. Desacada