Summary:

Stance on Key Issues

On Poverty, Controlling Inflation and Jobs

• Seeks to pass a universal national minimum wage law to equalize the wages of those in the provinces and in Metro Manila.
• Wants to put in place a financial assistance program for farmers, akin to the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, and establish specialist health centers in every region.
• Urged the National Economic and Development Authority in November 2024 to review the rice tariff program and address rice inflation, despite an executive order signed by Marcos Jr. that sought to lower rice prices by lowering rice tariff.

On Fighting Graft and Corruption

• Co-authored bill recognizing the legitimacy of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) and taxing them. Then-president Rodrigo Duterte signed this into law on Sept. 22, 2021.
• Called for the suspension of POGO activities, prior to the ban imposed by President Marcos Jr. in his State of the Nation Address.
• Urged the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. to review and clarify its policies on regulating POGOs.
• Did not sign the joint report of the Senate Committees on Ways and Means and Public Order and Dangerous Drugs in 2023, which recommended the gradual phaseout of POGOs. The senator said she was not able to study the report thoroughly as a reason for not signing it.

On West Philippine Sea

• Advocates for the Philippines being a “friend of all” amid the tensions in the West Philippine Sea.
• Wants a self-reliant defense posture to beef up the Philippines’ defense force with updated equipment manufactured in the country.

On The Drug War

• Opposes the ongoing probe of the International Criminal Court into the extrajudicial killings in the Duterte administration’s drug war.

On Disaster-preparedness

• Seeks to create the National Resiliency and Disaster Management Authority that tackles disaster prevention and mitigation, preparedness, response, rehabilitation, and recovery.
• Underscores the need to improve access to the People’s Survival Fund (PSF), a fund given by the government for projects of local government units and civil society organizations. The PSF has approved projects that allow communities to establish early warning systems and introduce farming technologies in agricultural areas affected by typhoons.

Government Experience/Field of Expertise

• Senator (2019 - 2025)
• Governor, Ilocos Norte (2010 - 2019)
• Representative, Ilocos Norte second district (1998 - 2017)
• Assemblywoman, regular Batasang Pambansa - Ilocos Norte (1984 - 1986)
• Chairperson, Kabataang Barangay Foundation

Issues and Controversies

• In 1991, a district court in Hawaii found Marcos liable for the wrongful death (by torture) of Archimedes Trajano, an engineering student from Mapúa University, and ordered her to pay over $4 million in damages and legal fees to Trajano’s family. The Trajano family never received this payment, as Marcos argued before the Supreme Court (SC) the validity of service of summons of a Pasig Regional Trial Court, which affirmed the Hawaii Court decision. The SC ruled in favor of Marcos on the basis that the Pasig RTC failed to properly serve the summons on her.
• Marcos’ website bears the false claim that she was the founder and chair of Kabataang Barangay from 1975 to 1986.
• Several reports have also debunked Marcos’ claims about her alleged educational degrees from Princeton University and the University of the Philippines – College of Law.

Family Members in Government

Matthew J. Marcos Manotoc

• Relationship: Son
• Position/s held:
  • Governor – Ilocos Norte (2019 – present)
  • Board Member – Ilocos Norte (2016 – 2019)

Ferdinand Marcos Sr.

• Relationship: Father
• Position/s held:
  • President (1965 – 1986)
  • Senator (1959 – 1965)

Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

• Relationship: Brother
• Position/s held:
  • President (2022 – present)
  • Senator (2010 – 2016)
  • Representative – Ilocos Norte, second district (2007 – 2010)
  • Governor – Ilocos Norte (1998 – 2007)
  • Representative – Ilocos Norte, second district (1992 – 1995)

Imelda Romualdez Marcos

• Relationship: Mother
• Position/s held:
  • Representative – Ilocos Norte, second district (2010 – 2019)
  • Representative – Leyte, first district (1995 – 1998)
  • Assemblywoman – Interim Batasang Pambansa, Region IV/Metropolitan Manila (1978 – 1984)

Pacifico Marcos

• Relationship: Uncle
• Position/s held:
  • Chairman – Philippine Medical Care Commission (1971-1983)

Alfredo “Bejo” Romualdez

• Relationship: Uncle
• Position/s held:
  • Mayor – Tacloban City (1998 – 2007)