MANILA — Senator Imee Marcos appealed to Filipinos on Tuesday to stay alert and actively defend democratic freedoms amid what she claimed were growing efforts to silence dissenting voices and conceal the truth.
In a statement, Marcos said recent developments have made it increasingly difficult to ignore what she described as intimidation directed at individuals seeking transparency and accountability.
“Hindi na maipagkakaila. Hindi na maitatanggi. Hindi na mapagtatakpan,” she said.
Marcos revealed that senators who have been pushing to disclose information to the public recently met to discuss their next steps, taking into consideration both their responsibilities to the nation and the safety of their families and staff.
“Kami pong mga senador na unang sumubok na ilatag ang buong katotohanan sa bansa ay nagpulong at nagkasundong magdesisyon na isinasaalang-alang ang kaligtasan ng aming mga pamilya at opisina habang hindi iwinawaksi ang pananagutan namin sa bayan,” she said.
The senator also accused unnamed groups of attempting to weaken the Senate and disregard constitutional principles. She criticized what she viewed as politically motivated interpretations of Supreme Court actions, particularly those involving impeachment matters and allegations linked to flood-control projects.
According to Marcos, such actions threaten democratic institutions and undermine public trust in government processes.
She called on citizens to stand firm, remain honest about their convictions, and resist any efforts that could erode civil liberties and constitutional rights.
“Hinihikayat ko ang bawat Pilipino na mas maging mapagmatyag; maging tapat sa inyong damdamin at labanan ang mga hakbang ng pagsikil sa ating karapatan at kalayaan,” she said.
Marcos likewise encouraged Filipinos to join peaceful and lawful demonstrations to express opposition to what she described as sustained harassment and pressure against those attempting to bring information to light.
She maintained that no amount of political maneuvering or public distraction could permanently conceal alleged wrongdoing, adding that the truth would eventually emerge.
The senator concluded by urging the public to closely monitor political developments and hold leaders accountable for their actions.
“Panoorin natin silang lahat habang nilaladlad nila ang tunay nilang pagkatao,” she said.
ia/xf
