Senator Imee Marcos stunned the public when, during the INC Rally for Peace, she openly alleged that her brother, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., and his family had long struggled with drug abuse. The revelation triggered shockwaves across the country, sparking a torrent of mixed reactions online.

After the livestream, netizens flooded social media with commentary. On X (formerly Twitter), some users said they were less surprised by the allegation itself and more curious about the timing and political intent. One widely shared post framed the controversy as the latest twist in a “teleserye-like” political saga:

“Aantayin ko na lang ang pasabog ni Bongbong o ng First Lady, ang revelation na hindi nila tunay na kapatid si Imee. Na sa takbo ng teleserye nating bayan, hindi malabong mangyari.”

Another viral reaction — with roughly 2.2K likes — labeled Imee “desperada,” accusing her of hypocrisy for campaigning for the president despite allegedly knowing his supposed struggles.

“Imee Marcos is desperate. Mas maganda in Tagalog – desperada! Nuon pa alam ng mga tao na yang akusasyon na drug user si BBM. But you and Sara Duterte ignored it and campaigned for him in 2022. The hypocrisy! Ano nga sabi nila, birds of the same feather… drag together?”

Others questioned her credibility and motives, citing the setting of her speech — a rally themed around transparency and accountability:

“Matagal na pala nyang alam na nagdo-droga kapatid nya, bakit pinatakbo pang Panggulo? Tapos, rally for transparency and accountability pero pinagsasalita si Imee Marcos at Marcoleta na may bahid din ng kurapsyon, at hindi transparent sa SALN at SOCE.”

Another post highlighted how politically destructive the allegation could be — not only for the president, but for Imee herself:

“Imee just crossed the rubicon. She burned all the bridges and I hope the fire she started won't cremate her in the end. They're both old, in the twilight of their years. All these because of politics? Personally, I cannot imagine myself doing that to my own sibling…”

But many users also defended the president and dismissed Imee’s speech as political maneuvering.

“No smear from you, Imee—or even all the Didilis—will sway my stand with PBBM. I will never support Sara, defined by laziness, irresponsibility, corruption, pro-China ties, and shielding criminals.”

On Facebook, discussions took a more emotional tone. One post expressed empathy for Imee as someone dealing with a relative with addiction:

“I looked at her not as a public official nor a Marcos; but a family member of the infamous drug addict… Victims of drug addicts live with tantrums, empty promises, and damage…”

The post went on to question the president’s leadership capacity and called for constitutional action.

Other commenters remained skeptical of Imee’s sincerity, saying her delivery appeared staged rather than heartfelt:

“Kung saken 'to at tunay ang mga sinabi laban sa kapatid… baka di ko kayanin o pagbaba ko pa lang ng stage di na ako makausap at umiyak ng umiyak… pero siya nakangiti pa, para bang sinabi niya natapos niya na script niya... gusto maging bayani pero noon pa nya dapat sinabi yan.”

Many also criticized the INC rally itself, calling it political rather than grassroots:

“An ‘induced’ people power will never succeed, the kind orchestrated by religious cults with authoritarian leadership & by political parties with vested interests. Genuine people power is spontaneous and massive, not by followers ordered to attend.”

A post that sparked more than 2.4K comments argued that the speech may have unintentionally turned public sympathy toward the president:

“Akala ni Imee sa pambabalahura niya kay PBBM kagabi ay kakampi ang madla sa pro-Duterte bloc. Pero kabaliktaran—mas marami ang naawa at kumampi kay PBBM. We Filipinos love the underdog.”

Another noted that the speech may have harmed not only the president, but the Marcos legacy as a whole:

“She made her cherished family name a gargantuan laughingstock. They have been lying to the Filipino people since the 2022 elections and we are reaping all of it now.”

As the fallout continues, one thing has become clear: this is no longer just a dispute between siblings. The revelation — whether believed, doubted, or politicized — has escalated into a national spectacle where loyalty, power, morality, and personal betrayal collide under public scrutiny.