Sandro Marcos Breaks Silence on His Aunt Imee's Allegations – Here's What He Said

A scandal of staggering proportions has exploded at the heart of the Philippines' ruling elite, sending shockwaves through the nation as a once-unbreakable political clan fractures before the public eye.

Senator Imee Marcos, daughter of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos, stunned the nation with a fiery, accusation-laden speech that targeted her own blood — including President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and even her own nephew, Ilocos Norte Representative Sandro Marcos, alleging drug abuse and betrayal within the First Family.

'A Web of Lies': Sandro Marcos Slams His Aunt's Bombshell Speech

The storm erupted on November 10, 2025, during a rally hosted by the Iglesia ni Cristo, where Senator Imee stood before a massive crowd and accused her own brother — the sitting President — of drug use, extending her accusations to include his wife, children, and their inner circle.

She claimed the President's household and close friends were "addicts." The speech sent gasps through the audience and ignited a political firestorm.

Within hours, Rep. Sandro Marcos delivered a defiant and deeply emotional rebuttal. "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."

He didn't hold back and said, "To further repeat an accusation against President Bongbong Marcos and the First Lady (and for the first time ever myself) that is not only false, but dangerously irresponsible. Sa lahat po ng binanggit ni senadora, walang basehan, walang katotohanan, at walang magandang idudulot sa bayan."

Visibly shaken, Sandro added, "Now is the time to unite behind truth, not to amplify narratives meant to topple the government. Hindi ito asal ng isang tunay na kapatid."

Calls for Drug Testing as Paolo Duterte Fans the Flames

Into the blazing feud stepped Davao City Representative Paolo Duterte, demanding mandatory drug testing for all government officials — Marcoses included.

"Kaya sa harap ng mga pahayag ng mismong kapatid niya, lalo pang lumalakas ang aming panawagan: Magpa-drug test ang lahat ng opisyal ng gobyerno. Walang exempted. Walang special treatment," Paolo stated.

The pressure is mounting, and Paolo didn't mince words. His remarks suggested that the Marcoses' refusal to undergo hair follicle testing raises serious red flags — as if they might be hiding or protecting something.

He added that it's not just about politics — it's about the future of Filipino youth and whether the country's leaders are fit to lead.

'I Am Disgusted': Senator Imee Unleashes More Explosive Allegations

But the most jaw-dropping moment came when Senator Imee claimed her nephew Sandro had personally offered illegal drugs to her own children and other relatives — an astonishing and deeply personal accusation that many political observers said crossed an unthinkable line.

"Kinasusuklaman ko pa ang pag-alok ng mag-inang si Sandro ng droga ang aking mga anak at iba pang kamag-anak. 'Yan ang hindi ko na mapapalampas. (I am disgusted by Sandro and his mother offering drugs to my children and other relatives. That is something I can no longer tolerate)," she opined.

She also delivered a chilling assessment of her brother's leadership, "Ang kabaitan ni Bongbong naging kalupitan. (Bongbong's kindness has turned into cruelty)." The implication? The President's alleged drug use had contributed to poor governance, mismanagement, and corruption.

Meanwhile, Rep. Sandro firmly denied the new round of accusations, saying his cousins — Borgy Manotoc, Vice Gov. Matthew Manotoc, and Michael Manotoc — can all confirm that he never used or offered drugs.

His calm but resolute tone contrasted sharply with the venom of his aunt's remarks. But the damage was done. Observers say the feud has erupted into a full-blown war, pulling in factions of the family and wider political circles.

Shifting Allegiances: Imee Sides with the Dutertes, Snubs Her Brother

Senator Imee's speech was not just a personal attack — it was a clear political pivot. Once a supporter of the President, she has distanced herself from Malacañang and drawn closer to Vice President Sara Duterte, who is known to harbor ambitions of her own.

She even defended former President Rodrigo Duterte against the Marcos administration's cooperation with the International Criminal Court — a move that isolated her from her own brother's government.

Despite her longtime name recognition, Imee barely scraped through in the recent midterms, placing last among the 12 winning senators — a sign, perhaps, that the public has grown weary of dynastic infighting.

According to Inquirer.Net, Senator Imee responded to Sandro's claim in a shocking Facebook post. Talking about his claims that she was not a true sibling, Imee said she would take a DNA test, provided her relatives were ready to undergo a hair follicle drug test in return.

The Presidential Communications Office moved quickly to discredit Senator Imee's accusations. Claire Castro, press officer for the Palace, called her story "kwentong kutsero" — old gossip — and branded the allegations a desperate political maneuver.

"What was Senator Imee's reason to demolish her own brother?" she asked pointedly, before reminding the public that President Marcos had tested negative for cocaine in 2021, after a previous claim made by then-President Rodrigo Duterte.

Veteran statesman Senator Panfilo Lacson voiced dismay, slamming Imee for airing dirty laundry in public. "That was very un-Filipino. We have seen siblings quarrel, but they confine it inside the home... But to bring your conflict in front of hundreds of thousands of people at the Luneta, to me that's unacceptable as a Filipino. We Filipinos are not like that."

Ranjit Rye, political science professor and analyst, said the senator's outburst may have backfired spectacularly. "She was out of control. I think it took the organizers by surprise … You know, she's a loose cannon in some sense."

His assessment suggests that Imee may have done more harm to her own image than to her brother's presidency.

'Toxic Family Drama': Progressive Lawmakers Demand Anti-Dynasty Reform

The political chaos prompted renewed calls for anti-dynasty legislation from the country's progressive bloc. Rep. Perci Cendaña (Akbayan) didn't hold back and mentioned, "We need an anti-political dynasty law to end this unbearable and toxic family drama. [Their] decades of rule [have] led us to our current state of politics. And the people continue to feel the power struggle of these political dynasties."

Rep. Leila de Lima (Mamamayang Liberal) echoed the sentiment, calling the feud a distraction from urgent governance issues and urging the formation of a new anti-corruption body.

What began as whispers has now erupted into a scandal of national proportions — complete with drug accusations, DNA challenges, and a family torn apart in front of a watching public.

Whether the First Family can recover from these allegations — or whether the scars will fracture the dynasty forever — remains uncertain. What is clear is this: Filipino politics has never seen a spectacle quite like this one.