Imee on Sara: I’m with you all the way

MANILA, Philippines —  Sen. Imee Marcos has vowed to stand by Vice President Sara Duterte despite her quitting the Cabinet of President Marcos, the senator’s brother.

“My trust and confidence in our friendship and in your kindness and integrity remain the same,” Senator Marcos said in Filipino on Wednesday.

“I am with you in every step of the way in this fight for the country,” she added.

For his part, Sen. Bong Go thanked Duterte for her service in her short stint as Department of Education (DepEd) secretary.

“There is always a time for everything. This is the time to prioritize the people’s welfare,” Go said in Filipino.

Meanwhile, former president and former House senior deputy speaker Pampanga 2nd District Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo distanced herself from any issues surrounding the Vice President’s resignation from her Cabinet posts.

“I understand the Vice President did not give a reason for resigning from the Cabinet. Thus, I am not in a position to give a statement,” said Arroyo, a close friend and political ally of Duterte.

The resignation of Vice President Duterte as DepEd secretary and vice chair of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict signals the start of a full-blown ‘war’ with the Marcos administration, according to former presidential spokesman Harry Roque.

“This signals the beginning of everything,” said Roque.

Before the Vice President quit the Cabinet, there were already hints of her stepping down. Duterte was even expected to tender her resignation from her Cabinet posts last June 8, sources said. She deferred the date to June 19 when she went to Malacañang and made clear her resignation before President Marcos himself.

The Vice President hinted of cracks in the relationship with the Marcos administration when she earlier said there is no longer a UniTeam with Marcos, as it was only good during the 2022 elections when they were still candidates.

She even naughtily quipped that one should remain beautiful and be able to wear two-piece when oppressed.

Various groups supporting the Vice President were said to have also prepared for what will happen after her resignation effective July 19.

But Duterte gave assurance that