MANILA, Philippines (November 18, 2025)— Senator Imee Marcos shocked attendees at a massive Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) protest rally on Tuesday, November 17, when she publicly appealed to her brother, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., to undergo treatment for what she claimed was a long-standing drug dependency.
Addressing thousands gathered at the Quirino Grandstand for a rally centered on corruption issues, the senator made an emotional plea, saying she had repeatedly urged the President to prioritize his well-being. She appealed for him to rest and temporarily step away from his duties, expressing fear for his health.
“I won’t be able to take it if something happens to you. I just want you to go home and rest for your own health,” she said in Filipino.
Sen. Marcos recounted her earlier belief that marriage would help the President lead a more stable life. She said she had even encouraged him to marry First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, hoping that settling down would bring structure and direction. Instead, she claimed, his alleged dependency worsened over time.
“I thought marriage would calm him and give him focus. I was wrong — his struggles grew deeper,” she said during her remarks.
The senator grew emotional as she expressed concern for her brother’s safety, saying the family could accept political loss but not personal tragedy. She then urged him to seek professional help, calling on him to “put himself back in order” and undergo treatment.
The claims quickly drew strong reactions. Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro immediately rejected the allegations, branding them as false and unfounded. Castro emphasized that similar accusations previously raised against the President had been disproven.
The controversy rekindled public attention on past remarks by former president Rodrigo Duterte, who last year accused Marcos Jr. of drug use and questioned his capacity to lead. At the time, President Marcos brushed off Duterte’s statements, suggesting the former chief executive’s reliance on fentanyl may have affected his judgment. He also dismissed reports of leaked intelligence documents allegedly linking him to drug activity.