Senator Imee Marcos revealed that Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte pushed her brother former Senator Bongbong Marcos to run for president when she decided not to join the race.
“Sabihin ko na yung totoo, nagulat talaga kami. First time siguro nangyari sa buong kasaysayan ng Pilipinas na yung frontrunner, si Inday Sara, e hindi nagpila. Akalain namin talaga na siya ang tatakbong presidente tapos ang pangarap lamang ni Bongbong e maging bise. Magka-tandem,” Imee said in an interview on ABS-CBN.
Imee said that she and her family were surprised when Sara stood firm on not joining the race.
RELATED STORY: Sara Duterte insists on not running for president, no VP talks with Marcos
“Di namin akalain na hindi pipila. Iyung medyo sidelined talaga lahat. Nagulat talaga, nagulantang yung buong mundo noong hindi pumila. Tapos ang sinabi na lang ni Mayor, ‘Bongbong tumakbo ka na.’ Sabi niya, Anong tatakbuhan ko?’ Sabi niya ‘Presidente na, hindi na ko tatakbo.’ So medyo hilo kami, we’re really not ready, but Mayor Sara said she’s not proceeding,” she added.
Imee said that Bongbong hesitated first when running for president.
“Sabi ni Bongbong, ‘Ni wala akong slate, ni wala akong partido. Pambihira, wala akong vice president.’ That’s actually literally what happened in all honesty,” she said.
READ ON: Sara Duterte discusses prospects of HNP’s support to Bongbong Marcos’ presidential bid
“Sa swerte naman, for some reason, itong si Bongbong naman nagugulat din kami leading far and away sa iba’t ibang survey,” Imee explained.
The senator continues to hope that Sara wull change her mind and run as vice president with her brother.
“Lahat kami gusto yun kasi parang mas simple yung buhay namin, may boto sa Norte, may boto sa South. Mas madali ang buhay natin nito,” she said. (TDT)