Malacañang on Thursday downplayed speculation of a rift between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his sister, Senator Imee Marcos, following her decision to withdraw from the Alyansa Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas coalition.
“We haven’t heard any words from the President,” Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a press briefing.
“She is the only one who says things like that,” she added, referring to the senator’s remarks.
Imee cited differences in advocacy as her reason for leaving the coalition.
Castro said it was a personal decision and emphasized that it would be best left to Alyansa’s campaign manager, Navotas Representative Toby Tiangco.
“If her beliefs really don’t align with the beliefs of the Alliance, it would probably be better for her to leave,” Castro said.
The senator also suggested that her brother had allegedly taken issue with her investigation into the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
However, Castro reiterated that the President had made no statements on the matter.
In response to Malacañang, Imee said she chose not to be affected by Castro’s remarks.
“In the immortal words of my mother, Imelda Romualdez Marcos, to patol (react) is human, to deadma (ignore) is divine. Let’s be divine,” Imee said in an interview.
In an interview on Saturday, the senator said that she was only able to talk to the President during public gatherings.
“We don’t talk anymore; it’s been a long time. There are so many people around him that prohibit us from talking,” Imee said.