Duterte: Imee one of just 2 govs who backed me during campaign

A few weeks after late dictator Ferdinand Marcos was buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, President Rodrigo Duterte reiterated how Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos was one of just two incumbent governors who supported him during the May elections.

Duterte mentioned this three times in different speeches on Monday.

"I won by the moribund PDP [Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan]. Wala akong governor dito except…Would you believe it? Dalawa lang ang governor ko. Imee. Puro babae. ‘Yung isa sa Mindanao. Dito si Imee, magkaibigan kami. She chose to support me," Duterte said of Gov. Marcos at The Outstanding Filipino (TOFIL) Awards 2016, where she served as chairman of the board of judges that chose the awardees. 

Duterte repeated this again during the the oathtaking of the People's National Movement for Federalism (PENAMFED) officers at the Reception Hall. 

"So when I became President, iilan lang kayo nagsuporta sa akin. That’s why ngayong Presidente ako, I just had two governors, Imee, because talagang magkakilala na kami niyan and another lady in Mindanao who supported me," he said. 

The President told businessmen the same thing during the Wallace Business Forum dinner at the President's Hall. 

"I only had two governors in the entire Philippines. Maybe three. But only two only confirmed. Two ladies. Imee Marcos and one lady in Mindanao, only because of love," he said. 

Marcos' burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani sparked a series of rallies around the country led by victims of human rights violations during the Martial Law regime. The late strongman was interred in a surprise burial at the heroes' shrine on November 18 after the Supreme Court (SC) voted, 9-5, to allow the interment. 

Duterte had previously claimed that Imee donated funds to his campaign, something which she had denied. His official list of campaign contributors also did not include the governor's name.

On Sunday, the President had also said that Imee, along with another governor, was one of only two top provincial officials that supported his campaign.

Officially though, Imee had supported late Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago for the presidency. Santiago was the running mate of Imee's brother, former Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr., who narrowly lost the vice-presidency to Leni Robredo. —JST, GMA News