A composite photo of Philippine President Bongbong Marcos and Senator Imee Marcos. ARCHIVE

The political feud between the Philippines most powerful siblings has erupted into the open, as President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Monday (November 24) rejected a series of explosive allegations from his elder sister, Senator Imee Marcos—including claims he has long used illegal drugs, mishandled the presidency, and allowed corruption to fester. The clash followed Imee’s fiery November 17 speech at Luneta before a massive crowd during an Iglesia ni Cristo rally, where she accused the President, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and even the Marcos children of drug use. She also linked her brother’s alleged condition to “policy failures, corruption, and manipulation” in Malacañang. On Monday, an emotional President Marcos addressed reporters, saying the woman who delivered the speech was “not his sister.” “For a while now, we’ve been very worried about my sister. The lady you see talking on TV is not my sister,” Marcos said. “I hope she feels better soon.” Marcost refused to detail the family’s concerns, saying, “It’s anathema to talk about family matters in public,” but admitted they “no longer travel in the same circles, political or otherwise.” The spat comes amid a brewing political storm over alleged nationwide corruption in flood-control projects—a scandal triggered by the President’s own disclosures in his 2025 State of the Nation Address. On Imee's claim that he has used drugs since youth, Marcos  did not directly deny the specifics but framed the allegation as coming from someone who “is not herself,” implying the claims were false and worrying. “The lady you see talking on TV is not my sister… We are very worried about her,” he said. He declined to address the rest of her accusations, saying the statements “do not reflect reality” and that “friends and family” believed something was wrong with her. He, however, called the accusations “dirty linen” that should not be aired in public. Marcos said his sister's  allegations came at a time when his administration is fighting corruption exposed during his own SONA—implying her claims were politically timed as she positions herself in the opposition. Shortly after his remarks, Imee fired back online: “Bongbong, ako ‘to… Patunayan mong mali ako — gusto kong mali ako (Bongbong, this is me. You’re hallucinating. Prove me wrong — I want to be wrong),” she said. Marcos' eldest son, Sandro, earlier called  the claims “false and dangerously irresponsible.” “Hindi ito asal ng isang tunay na kapatid (This is not the behavior of a true sibling),” Sandro said in Filipino.

10 things Imee said about Bongbong

In an unprecedented public address in Luneta on November 17, senator Marcos said she was compelled to speak “for transparency, accountability, and justice,” citing both moral duty and a call from religious leaders. The senator ended her speech with a direct appeal for the president to step down and undergo rehabilitation. She said she was willing to relinquish political ambitions but not her brother’s health, urging the police and government officials to “help him recover” for the country’s sake. “Your enemy is not me,” she said, addressing the president. “Your enemy is yourself—and the nation is being harmed in that battle.” Here are the top 10 things she said: 1. “A family problem long known” She said their family has known since childhood that Bongbong had behavioral and lifestyle problems, documented even in their father’s testimonies about his habits. 2. “A history of drug use” She claimed that her brother has long been addicted to illegal drugs, recounting instances when security personnel allegedly cleaned up after his drug-related parties. 3. “Marriage didn’t change him” She admitted she encouraged Bongbong to marry Liza hoping it would give him direction, but instead said his drug dependence worsened because both spouses used drugs together. 4. “Unfit conduct while holding public office” She alleged that as Ilocos governor, Bongbong often skipped work and repeatedly lied to her about stopping his addiction. 5. “Protected from consequences under Duterte” Imee said Bongbong’s name appeared on then President Rodrigo Duterte’s 2016 drug list, and she begged Duterte not to target him, believing he was merely a “user,” not a pusher. 6. “Continued drug use during campaign and presidency” She asserted that despite medical treatments and surgeries, Bongbong continued using cocaine, even practicing ‘micro-dosing’ and allegedly disguising treatments as stem-cell therapies and blood transfusions. 7. “Estrangement and exclusion” She said Bongbong and his team increasingly shut her out of the 2022 campaign, even banning her from headquarters and accusing her of wanting him disqualified—claims she denies. 8. “Drug use leading to corruption and misgovernance” She argued that her brother’s addiction enabled people around him to manipulate him, resulting in corruption, poor decisions, lack of accountability, and worsening national conditions. 9. “Allegations against the First Family” She claimed even Bongbong’s children were using drugs, and that Sandro Marcos and his mother allegedly offered drugs to her own child—an act she said she can no longer tolerate. 10. “A public plea for rehab and resignation” Imee issued a direct emotional plea for Bongbong to step down, undergo rehabilitation, and prioritize his health, saying she can give up political power but not her brother’s life, and asking law enforcers to intervene for the country’s sake.

Unraveling family drama

The rift between the Marcos siblings—once a united political force—has widened since Imee broke away from the administration earlier this year after the government sent former president Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court. With corruption scandals, intra-family conflict, and opposition figures circling, analysts say Marcos now faces his most precarious political moment. In an unprecedented public address in Luneta on November 17, the senator said she was compelled to speak “for transparency, accountability, and justice,” citing both moral duty and a call from religious leaders. The senator ended her speech with a direct appeal for the President to step down and undergo rehabilitation. She said she was willing to relinquish political ambitions but not her brother’s health, urging the police and government officials to “help him recover” for the country’s sake. “Your enemy is not me,” she said, addressing the President. “Your enemy is yourself—and the nation is being harmed in that battle.” Here are the top 10 things she said: 1. “A family problem long known” She said their family has known since childhood that Bongbong had behavioral and lifestyle problems, documented even in their father’s testimonies about his habits. 2. “A history of drug use” She claimed that her brother has long been addicted to illegal drugs, recounting instances when security personnel allegedly cleaned up after his drug-related parties. 3. “Marriage didn’t change him” She admitted she encouraged Bongbong to marry Liza hoping it would give him direction, but instead said his drug dependence worsened because both spouses used drugs together. 4. “Unfit conduct while holding public office” She alleged that as Ilocos governor, Bongbong often skipped work and repeatedly lied to her about stopping his addiction. 5. “Protected from consequences under Duterte” Imee said Bongbong’s name appeared on then President Rodrigo Duterte’s 2016 drug list, and she begged Duterte not to target him, believing he was merely a “user,” not a pusher. 6. “Continued drug use during campaign and presidency” She asserted that despite medical treatments and surgeries, Bongbong continued using cocaine, even practicing ‘micro-dosing’ and allegedly disguising treatments as stem-cell therapies and blood transfusions. 7. “Estrangement and exclusion” She said Bongbong and his team increasingly shut her out of the 2022 campaign, even banning her from headquarters and accusing her of wanting him disqualified—claims she denies. 8. “Drug use leading to corruption and misgovernance” She argued that her brother’s addiction enabled people around him to manipulate him, resulting in corruption, poor decisions, lack of accountability, and worsening national conditions. 9. “Allegations against the First Family” She claimed even Bongbong’s children were using drugs, and that Sandro Marcos and his mother allegedly offered drugs to her own child—an act she said she can no longer tolerate. 10. “A public plea for rehab and resignation” Imee issued a direct emotional plea for Bongbong to step down, undergo rehabilitation, and prioritize his health, saying she can give up political power but not her brother’s life, and asking law enforcers to intervene for the country’s sake. CAM/ICA/Expat Media
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