Maria Imelda Josefa Remedios 'Imee' Romualdez Marcos
Maria Imelda Josefa Remedios 'Imee' Romualdez Marcos was born on November 12, 1955, in Mandaluyong City. She is the eldest child of former President Ferdinand Marcos and former First Lady Imelda Marcos, and the sister of current President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. She began her political career in 1975 as the chairperson of the Kabataang Barangay Foundation, a youth organization established during her father's presidency. After the Marcos family's exile following the 1986 People Power Revolution, Imee returned to Philippine politics in 1998 when she was elected as Representative of the 2nd District of Ilocos Norte, serving until 2007. She later served as Governor of Ilocos Norte for three consecutive terms from 2010 to 2019. In 2019, she was elected to the Senate, placing 8th with nearly 16 million votes. For the 2025 elections, she has withdrawn from the administration coalition's senatorial slate, choosing to run independently while remaining with the Nacionalista Party. Throughout her career, she has been involved in various controversies, including discrepancies regarding her educational background and her family's historical connections to martial law and alleged corruption during her father's regime.
Education
- Attended Princeton University (1973-1977, no record of graduation)
- Attended Santa Catalina School in Monterey, California
- Claimed law studies at the University of the Philippines (unverified)
Career Highlights
- Senator of the Philippines (2019-present)
- Governor of Ilocos Norte (2010-2019)
- Representative of the 2nd District of Ilocos Norte (1998-2007)
- Chairperson of the Kabataang Barangay (1975-1986)
- Implemented the Task Force Trabaho initiative in Ilocos Norte, generating over 50,000 jobs
- Established the Sirib Express program, which evolved into the Ilocos Norte Youth Development Office
- Film producer and media executive
Key Platforms
Economic Reform
Advocates for a uniform minimum wage across the country to address regional wage disparities. Supports economic policies that prioritize domestic industries and small and medium enterprises, particularly those in provincial areas. Emphasizes the need for balanced economic policies that consider both urban and rural development needs.
Agricultural Development
Promotes agricultural modernization and support for farmers, drawing from her experience governing Ilocos Norte, an agricultural province. Prioritizes improving agricultural infrastructure, irrigation systems, and farm-to-market roads to enhance productivity and farmer income.
Healthcare Access
Pushes for improved healthcare access particularly in provincial areas, advocating for better equipped health facilities and increased availability of medical professionals in rural communities. Supports healthcare reforms that strengthen the overall system while ensuring affordability for ordinary Filipinos.
Infrastructure Development
Continues infrastructure initiatives focused on regional development, particularly in improving transportation networks connecting provinces to economic centers. Emphasizes balanced infrastructure development that benefits both urban and rural areas.
Youth Empowerment
Building on her early political career with the Kabataang Barangay and Ilocos Norte youth programs, advocates for expanded youth participation in governance and creating more opportunities for youth development, education, and employment.
Positions on Key Issues
| Issue | Position |
|---|---|
| Economy | Advocates for a uniform minimum wage across all regions to address economic disparities. Supports policies that protect local industries while maintaining international relationships. Has shown willingness to take independent economic positions that sometimes differ from the administration. |
| Education | Promotes initiatives to enhance educational access, particularly in rural areas. Supports modernizing educational facilities and curriculum to better prepare Filipino youth for employment opportunities. |
| Healthcare | Advocates for improved healthcare access in provincial areas and strengthening the overall healthcare system. Supports better distribution of medical professionals and health facilities throughout the country. |
| Environment | Has not made strong public statements on comprehensive environmental policies, though supports balanced development approaches that consider environmental impacts. |
| Labor | Demonstrated commitment to job creation through initiatives like Task Force Trabaho in Ilocos Norte. Supports policies protecting Filipino workers while promoting employment opportunities. |
| Agriculture | Advocates for agricultural modernization and development, particularly supporting small farmers. Promotes improved agricultural infrastructure and irrigation systems based on her experience governing an agricultural province. |
| Governance | Emphasizes streamlined government processes and improved public service delivery, drawing from her experience in local governance. Has recently shown political independence by withdrawing from the administration coalition. |
| Foreign Policy | Maintains a cautious approach to international relations, noting that "any U.S. president will naturally prioritize American interests" and emphasizing that the Philippines should prepare for policy changes in international relations. Tends to prioritize Philippine interests in foreign policy positions. |
| Charter Change | Has not made strong public statements on constitutional amendments during her senatorial term. |
| Lgbtq Rights | Has not made significant public statements on LGBTQIA+ rights during her senatorial term. |
| Drug War | Has generally supported administration anti-drug policies while in the Senate, though not as vocally as some other administration-aligned senators. |
| Icc | Tends to align with the administration's position opposing ICC intervention in Philippine affairs, though has maintained some independence in her stance. |
Sources & Citations
- Rolling Stone Philippines - '2025 Senatorial Primer: Imee Marcos' (2024)
- VERA Files - 'Imee Marcos and her 2025 Senate plans' (2024)
- RAPPLER - 'Imee Marcos withdraws from administration coalition's 2025 Senate slate' (2023)
- RAPPLER - 'Imee Marcos files certificate of candidacy for senator' (2024)
- GMA News Online - 'Imee Marcos files COC for reelection bid in Eleksyon 2025' (2024)
- RAPPLER - 'FALSE: Imee Marcos earned degree from Princeton' (2019)
- RAPPLER - 'FALSE: Imee Marcos was class valedictorian from California boarding school' (2019)
- Philippine News Agency - 'Imee rallies Ilocano support, pushes for economic, social reforms' (2023)
- Official Senate of the Philippines records
This profile is regularly updated with verified information from reliable sources. Last updated: April 24, 2025
