Senator Imee Marcos on Monday evening accused her brother, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., and his wife, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, of using illegal drugs.

Marcos made the claim before Iglesia ni Cristo members gathered at the Quirino Grandstand for the second day of their “Transparency for a Better Democracy” peace rally.

“Noong tumatanda ay mas naging nakakabahala. Batid ko na, na nagd-drugs siya! Nalaman ko at ng pamilya, nalaman ng pamilya, seryoso ito. Minsan, kami ng Presidential Guard at MetroCom (former Philippine Constabulary Metropolitan Command) pa ang naglilinis tuwing nagpa-party po sila,” Senator Marcos told the crowd.

She recounted asking the President to wed Liza Araneta in an attempt to set him on the right path, but said she was sorely mistaken.

“Nabuhay kaming magkakapatid sa ibang bansa, kami-kami lang. Kinumbinsi ko pa si Bongbong, ‘Pakasalan mo na si Liza.’ Naisip ko noon, kapag nag-asawa siya, malalagay na sa tahimik at magkakaroon ng direksyon. Ang laki ng pagkakamali ko. Mas lumala ang kanyang pagkalulong sa droga, dahil parehas pala silang mag-asawa!” she said.

Meanwhile, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro slammed these claims as baseless and Senator Marcos as “desperate,” recalling that the lawmaker did not refute the President’s negative drug test result when it came out in 2021.

“Walang basehan. Dahil kung itong drug test na ito na siyang kinumpirma ng St. Luke’s na negative ang Pangulo pag dating sa drug test, bakit hindi siya (Sen. Imee Marcos) tumutol noon?” Castro said, lamenting that Senator Marcos acted shamefully.

“Anong klaseng kapatid si Senator Imee? Anong klaseng Pilipino si Senator Imee? Kung totoong maka-Pilipino ka at totoong makabayan ka, Senator Imee, tumulong ka sa pag-iimbestiga… Huwag mong sirain ang kapatid mo. Nakakahiya, Senator Imee. Nakakahiya,” she said.

In December 2018, then-President Rodrigo Duterte said he would use marijuana to stay awake and perform his duties, Castro reminded viewers on her YouTube channel.