Bombshell accusation links Philippines' President Marcos, First Family with drug use

Duterte is currently detained in The Hague, awaiting trial for alleged crimes against humanity linked to thousands of extrajudicial killings during police drug operations.

However, the most recent controversy does not concern small-time users or street-level peddlers. Instead, it erupted at the highest levels of government and within the Marcos family itself.

On Monday, Senator Imee Marcos publicly accused her brother, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and their children of being drug addicts. 

“Ever since Bongbong and I were kids, the family already knew about him,” she said at a rally organized by the religious group Iglesia ni Cristo.

“I knew that he was using drugs,” she added, claiming the President’s alleged addiction worsened after marrying Liza, whom she also accused of drug use.

Imee further alleged that the First Family encouraged her own children and other relatives to take illegal drugs. 

She said she had kept her distance from the First Family since 2022 due to what she described as “blatant drinking and use of cocaine and other illegal drugs.”

Malacañang was quick to refute the allegations. 

Citing the President’s negative drug tests, Palace undersecretary Claire Castro said Imee was only “tarnishing” her brother’s name and questioned her motives.

Representative Sandro Marcos also rejected the claims as “not only false, but dangerously irresponsible,” accusing his aunt of spreading a “web of lies” for political gain.

The allegations follow earlier attempts by pro-Duterte groups to link Marcos to illegal drugs, including a fake viral video in July 2024 and Duterte’s own accusations in a January rally.