ILOCOS Norte Governor Imee Marcos on Tuesday withdrew her statement that P100 million will be given to lawmakers to secure her detention, with the funding coming from the "dilawans" or those associated with the Liberal Party (LP).
Marcos was forced to apologize and retract her statement after House Majority Floor Leader Rodolfo Fariñas threatened that she will be cited in contempt for refusing to reveal who her "source" of the allegation was.
"May source ako na nagsabi non na galing din sa Kongreso. At hindi naman siguro ma-dedeny na todo naman ang banat ng mga kadilawan, ika nga, at ng mga liberal laban sa pamilya ko at kay Presidente [Rodrigo] Duterte," she earlier said.
When pressed by Fariñas who her source was, Marcos insisted on withholding the name of her informant.
"May source po ako. Hindi ko na kailangang sabihin," Marcos said.
Fariñas then threatened to cite her in contempt as the accusations "cast aspersions on all the members of this committee."
Marcos afterward asked to consult with her counsel, among them former Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, who served as her father late strongman Ferdinand Marcos' justice secretary.
After a few minutes, the Ilocos governor finally apologized and said her "source was uncertain."
"For that I apologize and withdraw the statement, it is my mere suspicion and given that the source is uncertain, I withdraw the accusation to the integrity and honor of the House of Representatives that a hundred million circulated. Hindi po totoo yun," Marcos said.
Deputy Speaker Miro Quimbo, the highest official in the House of Representatives coming from the LP, for his part, said that they are being used "as a punching bag by those who seek attention from the President."
"This is absolutely fake news. As far as we are concerned, bugbog sarado na nga po kami...nagkakahati hati na po kami," Quimbo told Marcos.
Quimbo also said Fariñas is the "farthest person the Liberal Party will help as he is the person responsible for decimating our number from 130, we are now 27 today."
Fariñas initiated the probe against Marcos for her alleged anomalous purchase of motor vehicles using the tobacco funds of the province. (SunStar Philippines)