Senator Imee Marcos on Wednesday said she and the 13-member Senate majority bloc are “being targeted,” claiming that legal cases are being built up against them.

At a media forum, Marcos said she had received messages and calls from individuals allegedly from the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Office of the Ombudsman, warning of a supposed “case buildup” against all members of the bloc.

“Palagay ko lahat kami talagang pinupunteriya… As a matter of fact, maraming tumatawag, maraming nagte-text sa amin, taga-DOJ, taga-OMB, na sinasabi na kaming lahat... kine-case buildup na raw kaming labing tatlo. All 13 of us are being targeted,” Marcos said.

“There is an ongoing effort to build up cases against the present Senate majority,” she added.

She said the situation appears to be escalating. According to her, the accusations being thrown are becoming more successive and heavier, and that they are allegedly being gradually worn down because of the number of cases being faced by some of them.

“Ang dami-daming kaso. Pati si Senator [Rodante] Marcoleta. Yesterday, kahapon may announcement si Senator Jinggoy [Estrada], Senator Joel [Villanueva], Senator Chiz [Escudero], yung dalawang Villars, Camille and Mark Villar. Sangkatutak na talaga ‘yung kaso, inuubos yata kami sa kaso,” the senator said.

“Tapos nakatengga pa… may ICC warrant na susunod kaya si Senator Bong Go raw ay nasa listahan na naman,” she added.

“Pananakot ba ito o pang-aapi? Hindi ko na maintindihan,” Marcos said.

She further questioned the pace and intensity of political developments in the Senate leadership, saying:

“Nakailang beses na papalit-palit ang Senate President, bakit ganito katindi? Noon naman natalo kami, hindi kami bumoto kay Senator Tito Sotto, wala naman umalma, quiet lang kami, kahit tinanggal lahat ng aming komite, ayos lang. Kasi naniniwala kami sa proseso, hindi kami kapit-tuko sa posisyon,” she said, referring to former Senate President Tito Sotto.

“Pero ngayon bakit ganito, hindi naman nangyari ito dati,” she added.

Despite this, the senator said she hoped any such actions would not proceed, describing the situation as troubling given current national challenges.

“Whether this is true or not, I certainly pray that this persecution, if that is what it will be, will not proceed… Hindi naman maganda ito, lalo na’t hinaharap natin ang napakatinding emergency,” she said.

The remarks come as Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla confirmed that his office is preparing to file plunder charges before the Sandiganbayan against Estrada in connection with an alleged flood control project scam.

Remulla said the case could be filed within days, while a separate case against Villanueva may follow in about two weeks.

He also noted that “at least three more senators” could face charges, though it is not yet clear if all would be for plunder.

Another case linked to the same flood control controversy involving Escudero remains under preliminary investigation, according to the Office of the Ombudsman.

Meanwhile, Marcoleta is facing separate plunder and indirect bribery complaints before the Ombudsman over alleged undeclared donations amounting to ₱75 million linked to his 2025 senatorial campaign.

On the other hand, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa is being sought by authorities following an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant, which identifies him as an “indirect co-perpetrator” in crimes against humanity in connection with the killings during former president Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs.

Go was also named as a co-perpetrator in the same case, with reports saying that a warrant for his arrest may be issued in the coming days.