Political drama in the Philippines

There is nothing inauspicious if presidential sister Senator Imee Marcos decided to run as “independent” in her re-election bid in the coming May 2025 national and local polls. For her second term bid in the Senate, Imee was included in the 12-man Senate slate of the administration’s “Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas” banner. Last Thursday (Sept. 26), President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (PBBM) raised the hands of the Alyansa senatoriables, except Sen. Imee, who was conspicuously absent from the proclamation rally held at neutral grounds in Pasay City.

As the nominal chieftain of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), PBBM also headed the newly formed coalition of five political parties under the alliance named after his administration’s flagship brand. Calling herself as the “super Ate” of the President, Imee announced a few days later she has decided to run as independent. Turning 69 years old this November, Imee currently belongs to the Nacionalista Party (NP), touted as the oldest political party in the Philippines.

Imee has sided and has been staunchly defending Vice President Sara Duterte, who resigned from PBBM’s Cabinet last July. The President’s sister has been publicly declaring she will remain a loyal ally and friend of the VP despite the latter’s officially cutting off from the UniTeam that carried them to victory in the May 2022 elections. Imee has aligned herself with VP Sara, who has been under fire for questionable expenditures of “confidential funds” during her watch as Department of Education secretary and as well on the questioned use of confidential funds at the OVP.

As stated from the outset, there is nothing dramatic about Sen. Imee’s announcement running as an independent candidate. As early as last Aug. 30, it was former Ilocos Sur Governor Luis “Chavit” Singson who first declared he is going to run as an independent candidate in the Senate race. Singson is making another run for the Senate. His first run – he lost – was in the May 2007 Senate race under the 12-man Unity Team fielded then by president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo led by the Lakas-CMD as the administration party in power.

Before Imee’s official breakaway announcement,