Imelda Marcos to bring relief goods to Leyte as soon as she is well

Former first lady Imelda Marcos said Thursday she will pay a visit to the typhoon-ravaged province of Leyte, where she grew up, as soon as she is strong enough to travel.

 

In a report aired on “24 Oras” Thursday evening, Marcos said she hopes to visit the province soon to see the extent of the damage left by Typhoon Yolanda.

 

“[Malapit na akong] dumating doon. In fact, may nakahanda na kaming supplies [ng relief goods] na nakabalot na para ipamigay. Yung iba pa nga doon, galing sa Middle East,” she said.

 

The former first lady made a rare public appearance Thursday when she attended the wake of former Quezon City mayor Ismael Mathay, who died Wednesday. Marcos described the late politician as a “dear friend.”

 

The 84-year-old representative of Ilocos Norte has been out of the public eye since July, after she tripped inside the House of Representatives.

The former first lady’s camp said last month that her doctors barred her from visiting Leyte after the typhoon struck because of her fragile health condition. Marcos was then in the hospital due to fluctuating sugar levels, and was advised by her doctors to remain in Manila.

Rep. Marcos said that despite laying low from the political scene for a few months, she was aware of the criticism being thrown at her nephew, Tacloban City mayor Alfred Romualdez, for his handling of relief and rehabilitation efforts in the city after the typhoon.

 

“That’s politics. Wala naman tayong magagawa diyan,” she said.



Earlier this month, Romualdez figured in a word war with Interior Secretary Mar Roxas after he claimed that he was supposedly asked by the latter to cede control of the city to the national government. Roxas also allegedly brought up clan politics instead of immediately sending help in the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda. 

 

Roxas, however, said he merely asked Romualdez to write a letter to Aquino to request for the imposition of a curfew in the city following incidents of looting.

 

In a separate interview, Romualdez said he is willing to reconcile with Roxas and President Benigno Aquino III in the spirit of Christmas.

 

“If they feel the need to discuss the issues and thresh out the issues with me, why not?” he asked.

 

Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) head Herminio Coloma Jr., meanwhile, said Aquino is open to resolving his differences with Romualdez.

 

“Ang Pangulo po… sa lahat ng panahon, ay bukas na makipag-ugnayan nang mainam at mahusay sa lahat. Nais lang ng Pangulo na magkaroon ng pagkakaunawaan,” he said. — Xianne Arcangel/JDS, GMA News