That Lady on TV Is Not My Sister - President Bongbong Marcos

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. expressed deep concern over his elder sister, Senator Imee Marcos, saying the person making explosive drug-related accusations against him on national television “is not my sister.”

Speaking during a press briefing at Malacañang on Monday, the President appeared visibly pained as he addressed the senator’s recent remarks at an Iglesia ni Cristo rally, where she alleged that he, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and their children were using illegal drugs.

“It’s anathema to me to talk about family matters in public. We don’t like to air our dirty linen,” Marcos said, pausing before adding, “But I’ll say this much: for a while now, we’ve been very worried about my sister.”

He emphasized that the sentiment was shared not only by him but also by close relatives and longtime friends. “The lady that you see talking on TV is not my sister. Hindi siya ’yan. That view is shared by our cousins, our friends,” he said, his voice heavy with emotion.

Marcos stopped short of speculating on his sister’s condition but added, “I hope she feels better soon.”

When asked whether he intended to reach out to Senator Marcos directly, the President replied, “We no longer travel in the same circles—political or otherwise. So, no.”

Senator Imee Marcos, who has grown increasingly critical of her brother’s administration since aligning herself with Vice President Sara Duterte, responded defiantly to his remarks. “Bongbong, ako ’to. Kung ano-ano na nakikita mo, Ading,” she said, urging him to disprove her allegations. “Patunayan mong mali ako. Gusto kong mali ako.”

Her explosive claims at the November 17 rally have ignited a political firestorm, with Malacañang dismissing them as a “desperation move.” The Palace reiterated that the President had previously tested negative for drug use at St. Luke’s Medical Center in 2021.

In a counterchallenge, Senator Marcos offered to undergo a DNA test to confirm her lineage—provided the entire Marcos family submits to hair follicle drug testing. President Marcos’ son, Ilocos Norte Representative Sandro Marcos, slammed the accusations as “baseless” and “unbecoming of a sister.”

As the rift between the siblings widens, allies on both sides brace for further fallout in what has become one of the most dramatic family-political feuds in recent Philippine history.