Palace: Imee not having presidential security not related to rift with Bongbong

Malacañang on Friday clarified that the row between President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and his elder sister, Senator Imee Marcos, had nothing to do with the latter’s lack of presidential security detail.

This, as Presidential Security Command (PSC) commander Rear Admiral Andro Val Abayon, during a committee hearing of the Commission on Appointments (CA) on Wednesday, disclosed that no presidential security personnel are currently assigned to Senator Marcos.

During a press briefing on Friday, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro was asked if the apparent rift between the two siblings had anything to do with the matter.

“Wala po. Hindi po ganoon ang Pangulo. Kahit nga po kung anu-ano man ang sinasabi laban sa kanya ng sarili niyang kapatid, hindi po nagri-react ang Pangulo na negatibo sa kanyang kapatid. So, wala po. Wala pong kinalaman iyon,” Castro answered.

(None. The President is not like that. No matter what his own sister says against him, the President does not react negatively to her. So, that has nothing to do with it.)

Abayon said that when he assumed the position in November 2025, he found out that none of the PSC personnel were assigned to Imee Marcos. He, however, noted that the President’s other sister, Irene, has presidential security detail of her own.

“Your Honor, it is mandated for us to protect the siblings and I will talk to the good senator for the preparation of her security,” Abayon said when asked by Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson of his plans moving forward.

“I will prepare security teams, your Honor, for our good senator,” he added.

Lacson emphasized that it is the basic duty of the PSC to ensure the safety of the President’s siblings, and it is not up to Senator Imee to decide if she needs additional security or not.

“Because if something happens to her, it’s your responsibility,” Lacson said.

Senator Jinggoy Estrada then quipped, asking Abayon what he will do if President Marcos himself does not allow the deployment of presidential security detail for her sister.

“I will cross the bridge when I get there,” the PSC chief answered. — BAP, GMA Integrated News