Senator Imee Marcos announced that she has left the group chat of her fellow senators, citing what she described as “unproductive exchanges” that have turned into personal attacks instead of discussions on legislative work.
In a Facebook post, Marcos lamented the tone of the conversations, saying the chat had become a venue for “siraan” or infighting rather than unity.
"Noon, kapag may sakuna o delubyo, lahat ng senador, sa tulong ng pamumuno nito ay nagkukumahog manawagan ng pakikiisa, nagpapaikot ng ambagan. Ngayon, ito ang inaatupag, siraan, na mas malala pa sa lindol. Ayoko dyan. Ang gusto ko ay magtrabaho,” Marcos wrote.
Her move came shortly after Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson took a swipe at her for raising confusion over whether the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s investigation into the flood control controversy would continue.
Lacson quipped that Marcos should attend the Blue Ribbon Committee hearings, listen during sessions, and read the announcements in the all-senators group chat to stay updated.
“Mag-attend sana siya ng Blue Ribbon Committee hearing para hindi siya malito, at makinig siya sa session hall para hindi siya naguguluhan. Also, magbasa siya ng mga announcements sa all-senators chat group para updated siya,” Lacson said on Thursday.
In response, Marcos posted a screenshot showing she had exited the chat, along with a pointed retort questioning its usefulness.
“Bakit? Ano ba ang laman ng groupchat? ng session? ng hearing? Hindi ba’t panggigipit lang sa kapwa senador? Samantalang sa Kongreso ay si Zaldy Co lamang,” she wrote.
The Ilocos Norte senator further defended her work, listing her recent legislative accomplishments.
"Kung tunay kayong nakikinig sa sessions alam sana ninyong nakapagpasa na ako ng 2 International Treaties at naghain na ako ng bagong Coop Code. Mula nang mahalal noong Mayo, meron na akong 3 batas, Barangay at SK term extension, Konektadong Pinoy at Libreng Libing” Sen. Marcos added.
Marcos then criticized her colleagues for being distracted by infighting: “Yan ay habang busy kayo sa pang-aapi sa kapwa senador. Tigilan nyo ang pagmamagaling at pang-aaway.”
Marcos said confusion arose in the Senate after reports circulated that the Blue Ribbon Committee would no longer hold hearings on the flood control anomalies and that Senator Lacson was instead preparing to release a partial report.
"Nalilito kami sa Senado at ang balita, 'di na raw magpapa-hearing ang blue ribbon kundi maglalabas na si Senator Lacson ng partial report. Baka may pinag-usapan sa majority caucus? Iba naman ang binalita, 'yung ipapatawag si Zaldy at Bonjing," Marcos said.
The Blue Ribbon Committee did not hold a hearing on the flood control issue this week. The schedule of the next session remains uncertain, as the panel is waiting for further developments.
