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Marcos family feud: Philippine president ‘microdoses’ cocaine, sister claims

Senator Imee Marcos’ explosive allegations of drug use and cover-up tactics against her own brother have deepened a bitter family feud

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Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jnr and his sister Imee pictured during a wreath-laying ceremony to mark their late father’s 100th birthday in 2017. Photo: AFP
Raissa Robles
A searing public broadside by Senator Imee Marcos accusing her younger brother, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jnr, of using cocaine and cannabis has stunned the Philippines’ political establishment and intensified a bitter feud inside one of the country’s most powerful clans.

Delivering her claims to a crowd of 600,000 at a rally organised by Iglesia ni Cristo – a religious group with historic ties to the Marcos family whose name translates to Church of Christ – Imee, 70, said she felt compelled by duty and conscience to expose her brother’s drug use, which she alleged began in his youth and continued to this day.

Reading from prepared remarks, Imee claimed that the president and his wife, first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, had boasted of “microdosing”, dividing their intake throughout the day, and disguising their drug use as stem cell treatments and blood transfusions.

He doesn’t know any more what is happening
Philippine Senator Imee Marcos on her brother, the president

“His vice is the reason for rampant corruption, lack of direction, wrong decisions, absence of accountability and lack of justice in his government,” Imee said during her surprise Monday night appearance at the “Rally for Transparency and a Better Democracy” held in Manila’s Luneta Park.

Philippine church group protests against flood-control corruption scandal

Philippine church group protests against flood-control corruption scandal

“He doesn’t know any more what is happening. His minions no longer tell him and they are taking advantage of this by stealing massively from state funds.”

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The senator further alleged that her brother was being used to “destroy” Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio and drew a pointed historical parallel to their father, the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Snr, who was toppled at age 68.

“Bongbong is now 68,” she reminded the crowd.

Imee (right) and Marcos Jnr (left) accompany their mother Imelda Marcos as she kisses the coffin containing the remains of her husband, Ferdinand Marcos Snr, after his body was repatriated to the Philippines from Hawaii in 1993. Photo: Reuters
Imee (right) and Marcos Jnr (left) accompany their mother Imelda Marcos as she kisses the coffin containing the remains of her husband, Ferdinand Marcos Snr, after his body was repatriated to the Philippines from Hawaii in 1993. Photo: Reuters

First family feud

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