Civic leader says Imee’s claims are theatrical, not factual
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Following Senator Imee Marcos’ unexpected claims on 17 November 2025 that her brother, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., used illegal drugs, civic leader Dr. Jose Antonio Goitia described the statements as “loud, emotional, and confrontational,” but said none of that turns into fact.
“Her statements about President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. may have stirred the crowd, yet they offered zero evidence. What she delivered was spectacle, not substance,” Goitia said.
Accusing a sitting president of drug use is one of the gravest allegations a public official can make, and must be backed with strong evidence.
“When someone makes accusations this serious without a shred of proof, it is not bravery. It is recklessness,” he stated.
“The Filipino people deserve the truth, not emotional outbursts pretending to be national warnings,” he added.
Goitia cited that the President voluntarily underwent a drug test in 2021 at St. Luke’s Medical Center. The results for cocaine, the substance mentioned by Senator Imee, were negative.
“Hospital officials even testified before the Senate to confirm its validity. This is not a loophole. This is a documented test. If the accusers truly believed their own claims, then this decisive step destroys their narrative completely,” Goitia noted.
The civic leader also criticized Imee’s implication of the First Lady, Liza Araneta Marcos, calling it a “cheap shot” and “gossip dressed up as concern.”
“Dragging the First Lady into this without basis is a cheap shot. It insults the intelligence of the Filipino people,” he said.
Goitia highlighted that the senator’s recent acts do not serve the nation and that Filipinos cannot afford national discourse dictated by sibling emotions and family drama, as it is not credible information.
The civic leader reminded the public not to be swayed by noise, emphasizing that the country faces real challenges such as economic recovery, security, and national stability, which require focus and unity.
“Until genuine evidence is presented, Imee’s claims remain nothing more than noise,” he stated.
Dr. Jose Antonio Goitia serves as chairman emeritus of four civic organizations, including Alyansa ng Bantay sa Kapayapaan at Demokrasya (ABKD), People’s Alliance for Democracy and Reforms (PADER), Liga Independencia Pilipinas (LIPI), and the Filipinos Do Not Yield (FDNY) Movement.
