Imee: Marcos’ on drugs; Palace hits ‘desperation’

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang yesterday branded as a “desperate move” Sen. Imee Marcos’ claim that her brother, President Marcos, and his wife Liza are using illegal drugs, dismissing it as an attempt to malign the First Couple.

Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said the senator brought up a rehashed issue that was already disproved when the President tested negative for drug use at St. Luke’s Medical Center in 2021.

“What is the reason behind the desperate move of Sen. Imee Marcos against her own brother and the First Lady? To malign them.
 It is baseless,” the Palace press officer said in a vlog posted on YouTube.

“We know her possible motive. Is it because the investigation on corruption is ongoing and her allies in the Senate may be affected?”

Castro questioned Imee’s concern over the alleged drug use of the President, saying the senator did not call out former president Rodrigo Duterte for admitting that he had used marijuana and fentanyl and had committed corruption.

“Now, the President wants to clean this country, why is Sen. Imee Marcos obstructing it? What do you want to prove with these statements? This allegation has been proven to be false,” Castro said.

According to Castro, the critics of the President even came up with an AI-generated video to make it appear that Marcos is using illegal substances, but it was proven to be fake.

The Palace press officer challenged Imee to be patriotic by helping her brother cleanse the government of corruption.

“Condemn the corrupt, do not side with them. Do not hide them. Let President Marcos Jr. work to curb corruption,” Castro said.

“Do not destroy your brother. This is not the issue now. Since you cannot find a corruption issue involving the President, you are diverting the issue. What a shame, Senator Imee, what a shame.”