Imee calls Madriaga a 'liar,' urges Marcos to set record straight

Senator Imee Marcos refuted allegations of a supposed “term-sharing” deal between Vice President Sara Duterte and her brother, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., as claimed by Ramil Madriaga.

“Sinungaling ka, Madriaga,” the Senator said during a press conference on Wednesday.

(You are a liar, Madriaga.)

She then urged her brother to speak up and set the record straight. 

“Kung hindi mo ito ipinag-uutos, walang dahilan para hindi mo itama ang kasinungalingan na ito. Huwag mong kunsintihin ang mga politikong ginagamit ang sinungaling na si Madriaga,” she said.  

(If you did not order this, there is no reason for you not to correct this lie. Do not tolerate politicians who are using this liar, Madriaga.) 

Asked for comment, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said it would be better if statements of witnesses would be heard in order for the truth to come out. 

''Ano po ba ang kaalaman ni Senator Imee Marcos sa katotohanan? Hindi po ba dapat lumabas talaga ang katotohanan at madinig natin kung anong dapat sabihin ng sinumang witness? So, walang makakapaghusga ngayon kung ano ang katotohanan at kung ano ang kasinungalingan,'' she said. 

(What does Senator Imee Marcos know about the truth? Will it be better if the truth comes out and we hear the statements of any witness? At this time, no one can judge yet one's true or not.)

READ: Who is Ramil Madriaga?

No such thing

During the presser, Imee emphasized that there's "no such thing" as a term-sharing deal as she recounted their discussions in 2021, claiming that her camp had even pushed for Duterte to run for president rather than settle for the vice presidency.

“Pinipilit nga namin na si Sara ang maging presidente… bakit siya makikishare pa? ” she asked. 

(We were even insisting that Sara should be president… why would she still agree to share terms?)

According to the senator, Former President Rodrigo Duterte also had no involvement in any supposed deal and was not aware of such arrangements.

“Walang kinalaman si PRRD… kasinungalingan ‘yan,” she said.

(PRRD had nothing to do with it… that is a lie.) 

TIMELINE: Impeachment proceedings vs. Vice President Sara Duterte

The senator’s remarks come a day after Madriaga was presented in Tuesday's House impeachment hearing against the Vice President as she raised questions about his credibility.

“Hindi ako papayag na gamitin ang dignidad ng kahit anong sangay ng gobyerno para sa kasinungalingan,” she said. (I will not allow the dignity of any branch of government to be used for lies.) 

Imee maintained that she would not remain silent amid the supposed lies.

“Hindi ako tatahimik… hindi ko hahayaang mailibing ang ating bayan sa kasinungalingan,” Marcos said.

(I will not stay silent… I will not allow our country to be buried in lies.) —VAL/RSJ, GMA News