Senator Imee Marcos. ARCHIVE

In a closely contested overseas Senate race, incumbent Senator Imee Marcos fell short of the winning circle among Filipino voters in Oman, losing the final Senate slot to independent candidate Ping Lacson by just 39 votes. Lacson secured the 12th spot with 695 votes, edging out Marcos who garnered 656 votes. The rest of the top 12 was dominated by Duterte-backed PDP Laban candidates, with Bong Go topping the overseas polls at 1,591 votes. This marks the only GCC country where Marcos did not make it into the winning 12, a surprising outcome given her late endorsement by PDP Laban and Vice President Sara Duterte.

Top 12 Senate votes in Oman

1. Bong Go - 1,591 2. Bato Dela Rosa - 1,465 3. Rodante Marcoleta - 1,398 4. Jimmy Bondoc - 1,153 5. Vic Rodriguez - 1,057 6. Raul Lambino - 1,014 7. Jayvee Hinlo - 957 8. Phillip Salvador - 852 9. Marites Mata - 827 10. Apollo Quiboloy - 764 11. Gringo Honasan - 707 12. Ping Lacson - 695 13. Imee Marcos - 656

Rift with Marcos Jr.

The loss in Oman comes amid increasing tension between Senator Marcos and her brother, Philippine President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., whom she recently criticized for allegedly losing control of the administration. “The government is no longer led by Marcos. The government we have now is Romualdez and Araneta,” she said in a widely circulated political advertisement. Imee accused her brother of aligning with political families that once opposed their family, saying such alliances betray the legacy of their father, the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. “You will not swallow your vomit for politics. That is not our father's legacy,” she said. The senator also pointed to pressing national issues—such as the continued importation of rice and the country’s alleged reliance on foreign entities for justice—as proof that the current leadership does not reflect the ideals of a "Marcos government." “Rice is imported, even justice is imported, that is why it is clear that this is not a Marcos government,” she added. She previously said she was grateful to former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte for facilitating the state burial of her father. "I will always be grateful to Duterte for allowing my father's burial at Libingan ng mga Bayani (Heroes Cemetery)," she said. "I will never forget it because that wasn't a popular decision. A lot of people were angry." The fracture within the administration deepened following the March 11 arrest and transfer of former president Duterte to the International Criminal Court (ICC). Imee opposed the arrest and led a Senate investigation into the event, placing her at odds with her brother. Following the arrest, she withdrew from the Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas ticket and was officially adopted by PDP Laban, whose chairman is former president Duterte. In a last-minute shift before the end of the campaign period, PDP Laban passed a resolution endorsing Imee Marcos and House Deputy Speaker Camille Villar as guest candidates. The party stated the move was to strengthen protection for Vice President Duterte amid rumors of possible impeachment moves. “The party calls on its members to extend their full support to the candidacy of and ... and ensure that they receive prominent representation,” the PDP Laban resolution stated. ICA/CAM/GAD/Expat Media
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