SENATOR Imee Marcos’ sharp remarks during the Iglesia ni Cristo’s “transparency rally” at the Quirino Grandstand on November 17 — where she publicly accused her own brother, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., and his family of drug use — landed with exceptional weight.
The revelations stunned many Filipinos. While a portion of the public expressed disbelief, others raised their eyebrows and dismissed the outburst as unbecoming of a Manang — the elder sister.
The allegation is not entirely new. In January 2024, former president Rodrigo Duterte publicly described Marcos Jr. as “bangag” (high on drugs).
Even before the 2022 elections, Duterte warned of a cocaine-using presidential candidate — though he never explicitly named who, despite his daughter Sara running alongside Marcos Jr. at the time.
Many assumed the remark was directed at the now-sitting President.
‘IMPROPER VENUE’
Even assuming, for the sake of argument, that Senator Imee’s claims were true, the decision to air them before hundreds of thousands at a national rally was clearly inappropriate. It placed her judgment — and her position as a senator — under scrutiny.
As the elder sister, many expected restraint. Whether her motives were personal or political, her choice of venue was widely viewed as improper, running against the grain of familism, the cultural value that places family unity and reputation above individual impulses.
Filipinos, known for being deeply family-oriented, generally find it unthinkable to publicly shame their own siblings.
Yet Senator Imee chose to do so — in full public view.
It was, without question, jarring.
‘CLEAN AND CLEAR’
Her delivery was crisp, direct, and emphatic. The crowd cheered.
But to a broader national audience watching on television and mobile screens, the gesture did not reflect well on her. Instead of projecting strength, she appeared to have failed in the basic duty of an elder sister.
Her line was striking: “Batid ko na na nagda-drugs siya. Nalaman ko at ng pamilya. Seryoso ito.”
If she had known this all along, why did she allow him to run for president — with Sara Duterte as his running mate?
Such revelations, delivered late, carry heavy consequences.
Now that her brother is in office, what motivates this disclosure?
I am no admirer of President Marcos Jr., but as the eldest among six siblings, I cannot fathom publicly humiliating my own younger brother — let alone the sitting chief executive.
‘PROFESSIONAL MARITESS’
Senator Imee is known to have studied abroad and is undeniably intelligent and articulate.
Yet her public denunciation of her own brother created the opposite impression: that of someone lacking refinement, decorum, and restraint.
Onstage — if one were to be candid — she resembled a “professional Maritess,” a purveyor of sensational revelations.
What made the moment more disconcerting was that she acted as such against her own brother.
To many Filipinos, this ran counter to cultural norms of respect and familial solidarity.
It was, frankly, distasteful.
‘GHOST’ FOREVER
President Marcos Jr. may have weathered the rally and his sister’s accusations.
But what Senator Imee has released into the public sphere will not easily fade. It will linger — a ghost that will occasionally resurface and shadow his presidency.
Beginning that night of November 17, public respect for the President — and for the Marcos family as a whole — may gradually diminish. Whether or not the allegations are true, many Filipinos will view them with renewed skepticism.
The “Marcos vs. Marcos” episode will be remembered as another blemish on a family name already marred by historical controversies involving the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
ACT OF REDEMPTION
President Marcos Jr.’s aggressive anti-corruption stance has been framed as an attempt to redeem the family name. He appears intent on ensuring a credible inquiry into irregularities — even if it means exposing or implicating close allies such as former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Through his words and actions, he has signaled his desire to rehabilitate the Marcos family’s reputation. His message resonated to some extent during his third State of the Nation Address.
But before this reform narrative could gain momentum, Senator Imee’s public outburst introduced turbulence into his political trajectory.
Her remarks may have derailed her brother’s attempt to achieve a “soft landing” in his quest for redemption. For many Filipinos, the Marcos legacy may now remain overshadowed by internal discord and unresolved controversies.
Whether or not President Marcos Jr. finishes his term in 2028, one thing is certain: he may still earn sympathy and empathy, but solid respect may no longer be within reach.
Blame it on Senator Imee./PN
