Imee Marcos: ’We’re lucky to have a warrior President’

Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos. (File photo from Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — Filipinos are fortunate to have a “warrior President,” incoming Sen. Imee Marcos said on Wednesday.

Marcos made the remark amid criticisms that tough-talking President Rodrigo Duterte had been soft in dealing with China.

“Alam naman natin na matapang si Presidente. Maswerte tayo may warrior President tayo. Pero at the same time, bilang isang magaling na mandirigma, hindi naman siya lalaban sa talo,” she said. “Kaya maingat siya at sa palagay ko tama ang kanyang ginagawa.”

[We know that the President is brave. We are lucky to have a warrior President. But at the same time, being a good warrior, he will not fight knowing he will lose.]

The President, she said, had always been firm, contrary to what his critics had been saying.

Marcos surmised that the President just had his own reasons that would explain his actions towards China.

“I think it’s probably a very judicious use of power, very well thought out and calculated,” she said.

The President has been under fire after calling the June 9 ramming and sinking of a Philippine fishing boat by a Chinese vessel near Recto Bank in the West Philippine Sea “a little maritime incident.”

Despite the criticisms, President Duterte conceded that the Philippines could not stop China from fishing in the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

“We cannot drive them away because they have insisted that it’s theirs,” he said.

READ: Duterte: China can fish in Philippines’ EEZ

Marcos also backed the President amid calls for a review of the government’s foreign policy, especially with China.

“Sa palagay ko maganda yung ginagawa ni Duterte. Ako’y naniniwala na tama yung kayang tinatahak na daan. Ito yung landas na talagang available sa atin ngayon,” she said.

“And I think the code of conduct, the constant review of the joint exploration and other contracts that are prevailing in the South China Sea are probably the most fruitful and productive of these efforts. So sana tuloy tuloy,” the senator added.

The code of conduct is seen as a measure to prevent further escalation of tension in the disputed waters.

(Editor: Alexander T. Magno)