Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has denied accusations made by his estranged sister, Senator Imee Marcos, that he is a long-time cocaine addict whose alleged dependence has led to governance issues and corruption. Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro described the claims as baseless and suggested they may be an attempt to distract from investigations into a corruption scandal involving flood control projects.
Castro urged Senator Marcos to be a patriot and assist in the investigation, saying, “Don’t side with them, don’t hide them. Let President Marcos work to stop all the corruption.” The president has created an independent fact-finding commission, and a Senate committee is investigating allegations that influential lawmakers pocketed kickbacks from construction companies for substandard or nonexistent flood-control projects.
In a speech on Monday, Imee Marcos claimed her brother’s drug addiction started when their father, former dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr, was president and continues to this day, affecting his health and governance. She also alleged that the president’s wife and children were drug users. The president’s family has not commented.
The senator, a high-profile ally of former President Rodrigo Duterte, offered no evidence for her claims. Duterte was arrested in March on an International Criminal Court warrant for crimes against humanity over his anti-drug crackdowns. His family has blamed Marcos for the arrest.
Castro criticised Imee Marcos for not calling out Duterte, who has acknowledged past fentanyl use. Marcos previously laughed off Duterte’s drug allegations and claimed Duterte used fentanyl. In 2021, Marcos’s spokesperson released reports showing he tested negative for cocaine and methamphetamine.
