Imee Marcos accuses brother Bongbong Marcos, First Family of using illegal drugs
Sen. Imee Marcos has accused her brother, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., and the rest of the First Family of using illegal drugs.
Imee made the allegations when she took the stage during the second day of the Iglesia ni Cristo rally on Nov. 17.
"Noon, dahil may tatay pa kami, hindi ko pa siya responsibilidad. Noong tumatanda ay mas naging nakapabahala. Batid ko na, na nag-du-drugs siya," she said.
The senator recalled that she had urged her brother to marry Liza to solve his alleged drug addiction, however, she said things got worse. "Naisip ko nun, kapag nag-asawa siya, malalagay na sa tahimik at magkakaroon ng direksyon. Ang laki ng pagkakamali ko. Mas lumala ang kanyang paglulong sa droga dahil parehas pala silang mag-asawa," she said.
"Tuwing kokomprontahin ko siya ay nagsasabi siyang magbabago na siya, aalisin na niya ang bisyo. Hanggang sa may nagsumbog na naman sa akin, na sa paggising pa lang sa umaga, kasabay ng almusal, marijuana pala," she continued.
She further added that Bongbong allegedly does cocaine with his wife and friends.
"Inayos ko sila dahil gusto niyang ituwid ang buhay niya, gusto niyang magbise presidente. Hindi siya pinalad at lalong nagkaroon ng oras para sa bisyo," Imee said, referring to Bongbong's VP run in 2016, which he lost to former VP Leni Robredo.
"Sa totoo lang, masakit mang aminin, nung dini-disqualify na siya, halos papaburan ko na sana dahil may nagsumbong sa akin mula sa kanyang campaign team na gumagamit na naman siya. Nung sinabihan ko, siya at mga taong nasa paligid niya, nagkaisa silang tuluyan akong alisin sa kampanya na ako naman ang bumuo," she continued.
She went on to squash claims that she wanted Bongbong out so that she could replace him. "Hindi totoo yun! Iniisip ko ang kalagayan ng aking kapatid at paano siya magsisilbi kung ganyan ang kalagayan niya. Pero pinaparating sa akin na hindi siya lulong," Imee said.
Imee further alleged that the presidential children have started to use drugs.
Malacañang responds
In a statement, Presidential Communications Office Usec. Claire Castro called Imee's allegations a "desperate move" against Bongbong.
"Ang pinag-uusapan sa peaceful rally ay patungkol sa diumanong korupsiyon. Ano ang dahilan ni Sen. Imee para ang sarili niyang kapatid ay siraan niya?" she said, pointing to Bongbong undergoing drug tests during his presidential campaign.
"November 25, 2021, may mga pagbintang na gumagamit diumano ng droga. At the time hindi pa po pangulo si Pangulo Marcos Jr., siya mismo ang nag-boluntaryo para magpa-drug test. At sinasabi po sa drug test na ito ay negatibo," she added.
Castro also showed another drug test for cocaine conducted by St. Luke's Medical Center on May 13, 2024, which showed a negative result.
"So ano ang dahilan ng desperadong galawan ni Sen. Imee Marcos laban sa sarili niyang kapatid? At pati kay First Lady?" she questioned.
Bongbong has yet to issue a statement addressing his sister’s allegations.
This adds to the growing list of issues that the chief executive is currently facing. He was recently accused by former congressman Zaldy Co of ordering him to insert P100 billion in ghost flood-control projects into the national budget.
In March, Imee admitted that there was a rift between her and Bongbong. She also withdrew from the administration's senatorial slate for the 2025 elections.
