Philippine President Refutes Sister’s Cocaine Accusation Amid Public Attention
MANILA — A deeply personal and political rift within one of the Philippines’ most prominent families has erupted into public view after Senator Imee Marcos, the estranged sister of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., accused him of being a long-term cocaine user. The president’s office has firmly denied the allegations, dismissing them as baseless and politically motivated.
The extraordinary accusation was delivered by Senator Marcos during a speech before a large rally in Manila on Monday. She claimed her brother’s alleged drug use began during their father’s presidency and continues to this day, negatively impacting his health and decision-making. She further alleged that the president’s wife and children were also drug users.
In response, Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro described the claims as a “recycled issue” that has been repeatedly disproven. She suggested the senator’s remarks were a desperate attempt to divert attention from ongoing corruption investigations into flood control projects, which may involve her political allies.
“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,” Castro stated. “Don’t side with them, don’t hide them. Let President Marcos work to stop all the corruption.”
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The corruption scandal under investigation involves allegations that influential lawmakers received kickbacks from construction companies awarded contracts for flood-control projects that were reportedly substandard, incomplete, or never built. The issue has sparked public anger in a country frequently battered by deadly typhoons and flooding.
The public accusation highlights the deep political divisions between the Marcos family and allies of former President Rodrigo Duterte, whom Senator Marcos supports. Duterte, currently detained in the Netherlands on an International Criminal Court warrant for alleged crimes against humanity, has previously made similar drug use allegations against President Marcos.
The president’s son, Rep. Sandro Marcos, condemned his aunt’s statements as “dangerously irresponsible.” In a strongly worded rebuttal, he said, “It pains me to see how low she has gone to the point that she resorts to a web of lies aimed at destabilizing this government to advance her own political ambitions.”
This is not the first time drug allegations have been leveled against President Marcos. During the 2022 presidential campaign, his spokesperson presented medical reports from a private hospital and the national police laboratory showing he had tested negative for cocaine and methamphetamine.
The public family feud underscores the intense political tensions in the Philippines and reveals how personal relationships can become entangled with high-stakes governance and longstanding political rivalries.
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