Sandro Marcos claps back at Sen. Imee’s drug use accusations

By Nash Villena, Philippine Canadian Inquirer
November 18, 2025

THE FIRST FAMILY. Presidential son and Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos III speaks out against Senator Imee Marcos’ grave drug use allegations against his family on Tuesday (Nov.18). (Photo Courtesy: Sandro Marcos.ph)

MANILA, Philippines — House Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos III issued a statement on Tuesday calling out Senator Imee Marcos’ grave drug use allegations against the First Family.

This is amid the senator’s claims in her speech on Monday at the final leg of the 2-day Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) rally against corruption at the Rizal Park, upfrontly accusing her brother, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., and his family of taking illegal drugs.

The presidential son described his aunt’s allegations against his family to be “not only false, but dangerously irresponsible.”

“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,” Sandro said. “Sa lahat po ng binanggit ni senadora, walang basehan, walang katotohanan, at walang magandang idudulot sa bayan.”

(With everything Senator Imee said, those claims are nowhere near evidence-based, are falsehoods, and serve no good to the country.)

He added that the senator’s betrayal of the Marcos family “brings a lot of pain” to him, crediting her role for giving him a head start in his public life.

“Now is the time to unite behind truth, not to amplify narratives meant to topple the government. Panahon ngayon para magtulungan, hindi para magpalaganap ng gulo at destabilisasyon,” Sandro said.

(Now is the time to unite behind truth, not to amplify narratives meant to topple the government. This is the time to help each other, not to perpetuate disorder and destabilization.)

“HINDI ITO ASAL NG ISANG TUNAY NA KAPATID,” he emphasized.

(THIS IS NOT THE CONDUCT OF A TRUE SIBLING.)

A few hours after the statement’s release, the senator took to Facebook to respond to her nephew’s message and insinuation that she is not a legitimate child of the late president, Ferdinand Marcos Sr.

“Gustong paingayin ni Sandro ang usap-usapang hindi ako tunay na kapatid. Isa lamang ang solusyon: Magpapa-DNA TEST ako, [at] magpa-HAIR FOLLICLE TEST sila,” she said.

(Sandro wants to float the gossip that I am not a legitimate sibling. There’s only one solution: I take a DNA test, and they take a hair follicle test.)

The Malacañang was quick to comment on Senator Imee’s accusations on Monday, calling it a “desperate move” to misalign the purpose of the religious group’s peace rally for transparency and accountability in the government.