Presidential son and House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos has pushed back strongly against allegations made by his aunt, Sen. Imee Marcos, accusing him and his family of drug use. He described the claims as “dangerously irresponsible,” saying they were meant to damage both the government and their family.
In a statement issued Tuesday, the House leader said he was dismayed by the senator’s remarks. “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,” he said.
He added that the senator’s accusations—directed at President Bongbong Marcos, First Lady Liza Marcos, and for the first time, himself—were baseless. “All that the senator mentioned has no basis, no truth, and no good intentions for the country,” he said.
Sen. Imee Marcos made the claims during the second night of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) rally campaigning for “transparency and a better democracy.” She alleged that the President and First Lady used illegal drugs and claimed their children were also involved, saying she “won’t stay quiet” about it.
The House Majority Leader said the insinuations against him were false and pointed out that his cousins—Borgy Manotoc, Ilocos Norte Vice Governor Matthew Manotoc, and Atty. Michael Manotoc—could confirm he was not involved in any drug-related activity.
Marcos also spoke about the strain the accusations have brought to the family. He said he and his cousins had agreed not to let disagreements between their parents affect their own relationships. “That is why it makes me sad to see her do this,” he said, adding that he felt betrayed. “This is not behavior from a true sister.”
Sen. Marcos has distanced herself politically from her brother in recent years. During the 2025 elections, she left the administration-backed Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas shortly after the Philippine government handed over former President Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court. She later secured the support of Vice President Sara Duterte and was endorsed by the Iglesia ni Cristo last May.
