Sen. Imee Marcos on Wednesday thanked those who voted her brother Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. for president in the May 9 elections, seeing his victory as a "restoration of faith and confidence" in their family.
Marcos Jr. will be proclaimed president-elect by lawmakers as early as Wednesday night at the end of the official canvassing. An unofficial tally based on the same data showed him getting a majority mandate.
"We're most grateful for this overwhelming majority vote. It's extraordinary and some people say that it's a second chance and it's really remarkable," Imee told CNN Philippines in an interview.
READ: By the Numbers: Bongbong Marcos Heads to Landslide Win
"Thank you very much for the huge majority and this restoration of faith and confidence in my family. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart. Marcos pa rin mula noon hanggang ngayon," he added.
While Marcos Jr.'s win would mean that their family will be back in Malacañang 36 years after they were forced to exile, Imee said what's more important for them is that "the legacy of my father is what we hope will be clarified at last."
"We've been through very difficult times in the last 36 years. And I think now is the time to show what we still can do for the country," she said.
"We've been condemned, we've been vilified, we've been abused in so many cases, but in the end, I think, the people have spoken. They do want strong leadership, they want a return to the primacy of agriculture, infrastructure, the OFW, and a very clear sense of purpose and nationhood," she added.
Imee is at Batasang Pambansa as a member of the joint panel to canvass the votes for president and vice president. She said she was not aware if her mother, former First Lady Imelda Marcos, and her sister Irene would attend the proclamation.
In a separate interview with reporters, she said that their mother was "very excited" about Marcos Jr.'s win.
"Tuwang-tuwa siya sa mga pangyayari. She's suddenly able to hear, to walk, lahat ng sakit-sakit nung panahon ng COVID, lahat ng nararamdaman biglang nawala, maliksing-maliksi, at parang hindi na ulit siya 92 kundi 29," she added.
Aside from Marcos Jr., also expected to attend the proclamation is his running mate, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Caprio, who is also set to win the vice presidential race.
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