Imee Marcos apologizes to dad for rift with Bongbong

Senator Imee Marcos is seeking forgiveness from her father, late president Ferdinand Marcos, for not being able to watch over her brother, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., whom she has had a falling-out with over issues on politics and alleged drug use.

In a video posted on Holy Monday, Imee recalled that her father used to tell her to repent and reflect on who she should forgive and ask forgiveness from during the Holy Week. 

“Ngayon iniisip ko na ang dapat ihingi ko ng tawad. Sa tatay ko, ihingi ko ng tawad na hindi ko nagampanan ‘yung utos niya, ‘yung habilin niya, paulit-ulit, hindi lang naman nung tumanda siya at mamamatay na, kundi talaga buong buhay yata namin—parating binibilin si Bongbong. ‘Bantayan mo yung kapatid mo.’ Parating sinasabing gano'n,” she said. 

(Now I'm thinking about what I should apologize for. To my father, I apologize for not fulfilling your order and wish, which you repeatedly told me ever since, not just when you got old and was about to die. You always told me to watch over my brother, Bongbong.) 

“Hindi ko nabantayan eh… Kaya Dad, sinubukan ko talaga, pinagpilitan ko. Nayayamot na nga sa akin si Bongbong. Alam ko naman. Pero hindi ko talaga kinaya,” she continued.

(I wasn’t able to watch over him. Dad, I really tried, I forced myself to do so. Bongbong was even getting annoyed with me. I know it. But I just couldn't handle it.) 

Imee, who appeared emotional in the video, also said there were many people who were behind the rift with her younger brother. 

“Maraming humaharang, maraming nagbabawal, maraming naninira. Hindi na kami nagkausap nung matagal at hindi ko nababantayan. Kaya nagkulang ako. Talagang pinilit ko. Kaya humihingi ako ng tawad. Hindi ko kinaya eh,” she said. 

(There were many people who were blocking, forbidding, trying to destroy us. We haven't spoken in a long time and I couldn't watch over him. That's why I failed. I really tried to watch over him, but I couldn't handle it anymore. That's why I apologize.) 

In November last year, Imee accused the President of using illegal drugs—an allegation that Malacañang called "desperate."

The senator went on to dare the First Family to take a hair follicle drug test to counter her accusations, in exchange for a DNA test to dispel rumors regarding her parentage.

Asked about his sister's accusations, President Marcos expressed concerns about the senator, saying her actions were very unlike her. 

''It's anathema to talk about family matters generally in public. I do not like... we do not like to show our dirty linen in public,'' the President said.

''So, I'll just say this much... For a while now, we've been very worried about my sister. When I say we, I'm talking about friends and family, and the reason that is is because the lady you see talking on TV is not my sister. That view is shared by our cousins, friends... hindi siya 'yan,'' he added. —RF, GMA Integrated News