MANILA, Philippines (November 18, 2025)— The Palace dismissed as a “desperate tactic” the allegation made by Sen. Imee Marcos that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Marcos are involved in illegal drug use, describing the claim as an unfounded attempt to discredit the First Couple.
Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro, in a video statement released Monday, said the senator’s accusation revives an old issue that had already been disproven when Marcos Jr. underwent and passed a drug test at St. Luke’s Medical Center in 2021.
“Why would Sen. Imee Marcos resort to such a desperate move against her own brother and the First Lady? Her claim is baseless,” Castro said.
She questioned the timing of the senator’s statements, noting that the administration’s anti-corruption efforts are ongoing and could affect some of Imee’s political allies.
Castro also pointed out that Imee did not criticize former president Rodrigo Duterte for publicly admitting to using marijuana and fentanyl, nor for acknowledging corruption within his administration.
“Now that the President is taking action to clean up the country, why is Sen. Imee Marcos blocking these efforts? What exactly is she trying to prove?” Castro added.
The communications official said critics had even circulated an AI-generated video falsely depicting the President using illegal drugs, which was later confirmed to be fabricated.
Castro urged the senator to support, rather than hinder, her brother’s campaign against corruption.
“Stand against the corrupt. Do not protect them. Let President Marcos Jr. do his job,” she said. “Do not destroy your own brother. Since there is no corruption issue that can be linked to him, you are diverting the narrative. What a shame, Senator Imee.”