Imee Marcos to look into oil energy fund

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines — Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos told Boholanos that she would be looking into the Oil Energy Stabilization Fund (OSF), which was used by his late father, President Ferdinand Marcos, to cushion the high prices of petroleum products, particularly gasoline.

That is if she gets elected to the Senate in the 2019 elections, although she did not categorically say if she’s really running for a Senate seat, a matter that she said largely depends on her family’s collective decision.

But if ever she decides to go for it, she asked the audience attending the brief program at a restaurant in Tagbilaran City yesterday to support her.

Imee, who visited Bohol yesterday, expressed concern over the unregulated petroleum prices prevailing nowadays unlike during her father’s administration.

She said she set up selling gasoline in her province at very low prices for the lowly consumers, like the habal-habal drivers who can’t afford the high prices. There’s a need to review policy on petroleum products and other basic commodities for the poor, since “it’s really a big problem,” she said.

Imee also thanked Davao City Mayor Sara “Inday” Duterte for endorsing her to the Senate. “Inday Sara has been very kind,” she told the crowd, as she was also thankful for the support given to her brother (Bongbong) in the vice-presidential race in 2016 and his father.

“Thank you Boholanos for maintaining loyalty to the Marcoses all these years,” she said. Bongbong of the Nacionalista Party will not abandon his electoral protest against the sitting Vice President Leni Robredo of the Liberal Party, she said.

Imee was welcomed in Bohol by Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco, Vice Governor Dionisio Balite, Provincial Board Member Tommy Abapo Jr., Balilihan town Vice Mayor Roy Adonis Olalo, and Barangay Chairman Esteban Chatto, among others.

She also visited Bohol Institute of Technology-International College with the Balite family and the flew to General Santos City for another engagement there. (FREEMAN)