Senator Imee Marcos recently revealed a rift within her political family, indicating that her cousin, House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, is displeased with her for supporting the Dutertes. This admission came during an interview where she was questioned about Romualdez’s staff’s involvement in a signature campaign for Charter change.
Marcos explained that the tension began in October due to her vocal support for the Duterte family. Her stance was a strategic move to protect the UniTeam alliance from disintegrating. She expressed this commitment during a critical time when Vice President Sara Duterte faced severe criticism and threats of impeachment, as well as issues concerning the International Criminal Court (ICC) probe.
Despite these challenges, Marcos maintained her support, advising Romualdez against opposing the Dutertes, whom she perceives as allies who have been favorable to their family. She questioned the rationale behind any conflict with the Duterte family, highlighting their strong yet amicable relations.
Furthermore, Romualdez had previously expressed his optimism about the relationship between the House of Representatives and Vice President Sara Duterte improving. He also affirmed his belief in the solidity of the Marcos-Duterte alliance. On her part, Vice President Duterte echoed this sentiment, stating that the UniTeam coalition remains unshaken despite controversies, including the ICC investigation and the removal of a substantial confidential fund from the 2024 national budget.
Marcos also disclosed that over the weekend, she noted the apparent connection between the ongoing Charter change initiative and Romualdez, suggesting evidence of the speaker’s staff’s involvement in the signature campaign. This revelation comes after Romualdez’s statement last year about the timeliness of pushing for Charter change in 2024 through a people’s referendum.
In response to the divisive nature of the proposed amendments in the people’s initiative for Charter change, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri urged the Senate to lead the review of the economic provisions of the Constitution, preserving its bicameral structure.