Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Rep. Sandro Marcos and Senator Imee Marcos attend President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation Address at the Opening of the 19th Congress on July 24, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Imee Sandro

Vivienne Gulla

Rowegie Abanto

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176342556209320230724-sona-2023-bbm-batasan-0442.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Rep. Sandro Marcos and Senator Imee Marcos attend President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation Address at the Opening of the 19th Congress on July 24, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA<strong> (2nd UPDATE) </strong>— House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos on Tuesday defended himself and his parents, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and First Lady Liza Marcos, from the drug use accusations of his own aunt Sen. Imee Marcos. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/18/malaca-ang-denies-marcos-jr-s-drug-use-amid-sister-imee-s-allegations-0026">Malacañang denies Marcos Jr.&#x27;s &#x27;drug use&#x27; amid sister Imee’s allegations</a></div><p>In a statement, the Ilocos Norte 1st District Representative said his aunt’s “web of lies” was aimed at “destabilizing” the government to “advancing her own political ambitions.&quot;</p><p>Senator Marcos made the allegation in a speech on Monday during the second day of the Iglesia ni Cristo rally held at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila.</p><p>Speaking before a massive crowd, Senator Marcos talked about her brother’s alleged decades-long struggle with substance abuse, and even dragged the First Lady, saying, “‘mas lumala ang pagkalulong… dahil parehas pala silang mag-asawa.”</p><p>In a statement, Rep. Marcos said his aunt&#x27;s statements were &quot;not only false but dangerously irresponsible.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Sa lahat po ng binanggit ni senadora, walang basehan, walang katotohanan, at walang magandang idudulot sa bayan,&quot; he said.</p><p>The younger Marcos emphasized that his aunt&#x27;s latest move was a betrayal of their own family.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/27/imee-admits-rift-with-marcos-jr-1633">Imee admits rift with Marcos Jr.</a></div><p>&quot;That is why nakakalungkot makita na ginagawa niya ito. For her to betray her own family brings a lot of pain... Hindi ito asal ng isang tunay na kapatid,&quot; he said.</p><p>Rep. Marcos said that even the senator&#x27;s sons can attest that her claims are “false.&quot;</p><p>&quot;My cousins Borgy, Vice Gov. Matthew, and Atty. Michael can attest that these allegations that were insinuated against me are false.&quot;</p><p>Palace Press Officer Claire Castro on Monday addressed the senator&#x27;s claims, branding them as a &quot;desperate move&quot; designed to attack the President&#x27;s integrity without basis.</p><p>Castro directly addressed the issue of drug use, asserting that the President has a verifiable record proving he is drug-free.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/7/22/officials-dismiss-fake-malicious-video-showing-marcos-allegedly-doing-drugs-1418">Officials dismiss ‘fake, malicious’ video showing Marcos allegedly doing drugs</a></div><p>She highlighted the timing and intent behind the senator&#x27;s actions, calling it a diversionary tactic.</p><p>Rep. Marcos stressed that &quot;now is the time to unite behind truth, not to amplify narratives meant to topple the government.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Panahon ngayon para magtulungan, hindi para magpalaganap ng gulo at destabilisasyon,” he said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>LAWMAKERS REACT</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>For House Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno, Sen. Marcos&#x27; drug-use allegation against her brother could be a move to &quot;destabilize&quot; the government.</p><p>When asked why would President Marcos&#x27; family member would go as far as accusing him of illegal drugs use,  Puno said: &quot;If you&#x27;re trying to destabilize an organization, you try to be as shocking as possible.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Why else would she bring up personal issues at a rally that big?&quot; the lawmaker told ANC. &quot;I think even before the President was elected this thing was being thrown around… and the electorate dismissed it.&quot;</p><p>Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson also said that his colleague&#x27;s tirade was &quot;very un-Filipino.&quot;</p><p>&quot;That was very un-Filipino. We have seen siblings quarrel but they confine it inside the home... But to bring your conflict in front of hundreds of thousands of people at the Luneta, to me that&#x27;s unacceptable as a Filipino. We Filipinos are not like that,&quot; Lacson said.</p><p>&quot;I am disappointed with Sen. Marcos&#x27; action. She could have done this in another forum, but not to make accusations whether true or not in front of hundreds of thousands of people,&quot; he added.</p><p>Kabataan Partylist meanwhile said that the Marcos family infighting was more reason to ban political dynasties</p><p>&quot;The Marcos sibling meltdown is a prime example of why public office should not be a family business. Ang sumisira sa pamilya nila at sa bawat pamilyang Pilipino ay ang pagkagahaman nila sa poder,&quot; it said.</p><div> </div><div><strong>&#x27;HATE SPEECH&#x27;</strong></div><div> </div><p>Dindo Manhit, president of think tank Stratbase ADR Institute, noted that destabilization has different stages, and the Philippines could be at a point when those who want to undermine the government move to destroy the public&#x27;s trust to the President. </p><p>Manhit also said that Sen. Marcos&#x27; accusations were &quot;hate speech.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Ang sa akin lang minsan… you might not like the President but you have to respect the institution, the presidency, kung wala namang basehan at paninirang puri lang at ito’y manggagaling pa sa kapatid, hindi yata maganda ito,&quot; he told DZMM.</p><p>&quot;Bakit hindi siya nagsasalita nung tumatakbong pangulo ito?&quot;</p><p>The political analyst asked those who want to destabilize the Marcos administration: &quot;Bakit nila nais pahinain ang pamahalaan ngayon? Ito ba ay dahil meron din silang pinoprotektahang grupo? Or ito ba ay in relation to their own political objective?&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/d3C82l93O0M?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Nuk2YPcRQaE?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ODVxaxrk10o?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos on Tuesday defended his parents, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and First Lady Liza Marcos, from the drug use accusations of his own aunt Sen. Imee Marcos.</p>

House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos on Tuesday defended his parents, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and First Lady Liza Marcos, from the drug use accusations of his own aunt Sen. Imee Marcos.

Sandro Marcos calls out 'tita' Imee for 'betraying' family over political ambitions

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Sandro Marcos calls out 'tita' Imee for 'betraying' family over political ambitions

Jauhn Etienne Villaruel,

Vivienne Gulla,

Rowegie Abanto,

ABS-CBN News

Published November 18, 2025 08:29 AM PHT

|

Updated November 18, 2025 01:18 PM PHT

Read More:

Imee Marcos

Sandro Marcos

Bongbong Marcos

drug use

cocaine

marijuana

politics

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