Imee says President Marcos a drug user

National

SEN.Imee Marcos shocked political circles Monday night, Nov. 17, when she publicly alleged that her brother, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., has been using illegal drugs for years — accusations the Palace quickly rejected, calling them a “desperate move.”

Speaking to a large crowd at an Iglesia ni Cristo rally held at Quirino Grandstand, Imee said her family has long known about the President’s alleged drug use. She claimed that the problem started in their youth and worsened after Marcos married First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, whom she also accused of using illegal substances.

According to the senator, her brother’s supposed dependence on drugs has not only affected his health but also his governance.

"Batid ko na, na nagda-drugs siya … seryoso ito,” Imee declared, adding that she once urged him to seek treatment. She also linked his alleged addiction to the administration’s decision-making and corruption.

In a report by Philstar, Malacañang strongly denied the allegations.

Undersecretary Claire Castro, spokesperson for the Presidential Communications Office, branded Imee’s claims as politically motivated and unfounded, accusing her of weaponizing their family conflict amid ongoing corruption investigations.

Castro pointed out that President Marcos underwent a voluntary drug test in November 2021, and the results reportedly came back negative. She also referenced a more recent hospital test, saying that accusations from Imee were “recycled” and had been disproven previously.

The Palace further questioned Imee’s motive for raising the issue now, suggesting that her claims could be a distraction from corruption probes linked to her allies in the Senate. “Ano ang dahilan ni Senator Imee para ang sarili niyang kapatid ay siraan niya?” Castro asked.(Victoria Diana, USJ-R Comm Intern)