Senator Imee Marcos publicly accused her brother, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., of long‑term drug use that she says has undermined his leadership and contributed to corruption. The presidential office called the claims unfounded and suggested they were intended to distract from probes into kickbacks tied to flawed flood‑control projects. The dispute intersects with political rifts involving former president Rodrigo Duterte and ongoing corruption investigations. Marcos’ camp previously released medical and lab reports from 2021 showing negative tests for cocaine and methamphetamine.
President Marcos Jr. Denies Sister Imee’s Accusations of Long‑Term Drug Use
Senator Imee Marcos publicly accused her brother, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., of long‑term drug use that she says has undermined his leadership and contributed to corruption. The presidential office called the claims unfounded and suggested they were intended to distract from probes into kickbacks tied to flawed flood‑control projects. The dispute intersects with political rifts involving former president Rodrigo Duterte and ongoing corruption investigations. Marcos’ camp previously released medical and lab reports from 2021 showing negative tests for cocaine and methamphetamine.
02:07 AM, 11/18/2025Politics
Marcos Jr. rejects sister's public drug-use allegations
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has strongly denied claims by his estranged sister, Senator Imee Marcos, who on Monday accused him of long‑term drug use — including alleged cocaine dependence — and said it has impaired his leadership and contributed to corruption within his administration.
Palace response: Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro called Imee Marcos’ allegations baseless and suggested they were intended to distract from ongoing probes into a corruption scandal involving flood-control projects. Castro urged the senator to cooperate with investigations and to refrain from shielding anyone under scrutiny.
“Sen. Imee, I hope you’ll be a patriot and help in the investigation that your own brother has been doing and condemn all the corrupt. Don’t side with them, don’t hide them. Let President Marcos work to stop all the corruption,” Castro said.
Investigations and the flood-control scandal: An independent fact‑finding commission established by President Marcos, along with a Senate committee and other government bodies, are examining allegations that influential lawmakers received substantial kickbacks from construction firms awarded flood-control contracts. Critics say several projects were substandard, unfinished or never constructed — a politically explosive issue in a country frequently affected by deadly floods and typhoons.
Political context: Senator Imee Marcos is politically aligned with allies of former president Rodrigo Duterte, who remains a polarizing figure. Duterte has faced scrutiny from the International Criminal Court over his violent anti‑drug campaign, which human rights groups say resulted in thousands of mostly poor suspects killed; he denies wrongdoing. Duterte’s family and supporters have accused the Marcos administration of targeting the former president with ICC proceedings, and his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, has been a vocal critic of President Marcos while remaining allied with Senator Imee.
Speaking to a large religious rally in Manila, Imee Marcos said her brother’s alleged drug use began during their father’s presidency and has continued into the present, harming his health and capacity to govern. She also asserted, without providing evidence, that the president’s wife and children used drugs. The president’s family has not issued an immediate public response to those specific claims.
President Marcos and Senator Imee are children of the late Ferdinand Marcos Sr., the former dictator who was ousted in the 1986 “people power” uprising.
Past responses and tests: The president has previously denied similar allegations. During his 2021 presidential campaign, Marcos’ camp released two documents — a private hospital report and a national police laboratory report — indicating he tested negative for cocaine and methamphetamine. These reports have been cited by his supporters to rebut drug-use claims.
What remains unresolved: Senator Imee made strong assertions linking alleged substance use to governance failures and corruption, but she did not present verifiable evidence in her public remarks. The exchange has intensified political tensions as ongoing investigations into flood-control projects continue. Observers say the dispute risks further politicizing inquiries that have significant public interest given the human and economic costs of flooding in the Philippines.