Senator Imee Marcos publicly expressed her desire to seek forgiveness from her late father, former President and dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr., saying she feels she fell short of his repeated request to look after her brother, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., amid their ongoing personal and political estrangement.
In a video released on Holy Monday, Marcos reflected on repentance during Holy Week, recalling her father’s constant reminder to protect her younger sibling.
“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.
Visibly emotional, Marcos admitted she was unable to fulfill that responsibility, citing external influences that contributed to her estrangement from the president.
“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 added.
The tension between the siblings escalated in November last year when Marcos accused the president of illegal drug use—an allegation Malacañang dismissed as “desperate.”
She later challenged the First Family to undergo hair follicle drug testing, offering to take a DNA test herself to address rumors about her lineage.
President Marcos, when asked about the accusations, expressed concern over his sister’s behavior, noting that her recent actions seemed out of character.