Palace slams Imee for ‘lies’ vs BBM; calls INC rally speech scripted, politically driven

Palace Press Officer and Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro denounced Senator Imee Marcos’ statements alleging that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., his wife, and their children are involved in illegal drug use. The allegations were made during an Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) prayer rally for transparency and peace, which centered on flood control project anomalies.

In an interview on DZRH, Castro said the Palace was surprised by the allegation but not shocked that Imee Marcos would publicly make negative claims about her own brother.

“Nakita nila PBBM. Nagulat ba sila na ganoon ang sinabi pero hindi sila nagulat na maaari silang sirain ni Sen. Imee. Nagulat sila na kaya palang magsinungaling ni Sen. Imee laban sa kapatid,” Castro said.

Castro called the accusation a blatant lie.

“[Kasinungalingan] ang gumagamit ng bawal na gamot. Obvious ba iyon? Ang dami-daming [kasinungalingan] sa nasabi na na-debunk pero paulit-ulit sila dahil wala silang negatibo sa pangulo. Marahil kailangan nilang kumilos ng ganito, mga desperado sila, kailangan nila siraan ang pangulo,” she said.

Misaligned focus at INC rally

Castro questioned why Imee Marcos brought up personal issues during an event intended to address corruption in flood control projects.

“Tandaan natin, hindi ba INC peace rally ito? So peace rally tungkol sa maaanomalyang flood control project. Ano ang isinisigaw ni Sen. Imee sa peace rally ng INC? Bakit ibang isyu ang gusto niyang palaganapin. So obvious na iba ang tinatahak.”

She suggested the senator’s actions may be politically motivated, potentially tied to plans to run for vice president alongside Sara Duterte.

“Alam mo na desperado sila… Dahil ba nagpapaimbestiga ang Pangulo sa maaanomalyang flood control project at maaaring ang mga kaibigan niya at kaalyado niya ay matatamaan?”

Scripted, not emotional

Castro, a lawyer, claimed the senator’s speech appeared rehearsed.

“Abogado naman ako. Kaya kong magbasa ng body language. Binabasa niya [Sen. Imee], that is a script. Hindi pwedeng bugso ng damdamin iyon… That is ridiculous. Prepared niya iyon,” she explained.

She added that the rally was aimed at ending corruption—not attacking the President.

“Dapat iginalang niya kung ano ang adhikain ng INC… Bakit ang Pangulo ang sinisiraan niya? Bakit ang kapatid niya ang sinisiraan niya?”

Motivation and context

Castro cited past anomalies as context.

“Year 2022, ang dami nang ghost project at it was admitted by the former President himself. Tumayo ba siya [Sen. Imee] at nanindigan? … Wala namang nagrally noon.”

Call for reflection, not anger

Despite her criticism, Castro urged calm and compassion.

“Ipagdasal natin siya [Sen. Imee] na maging matiwasay ang kaniyang pag-iisip at damdamin.”

Castro stressed that the INC rally itself should not be blamed.

“Hindi ko naman masisisi dito ang INC… Pero matuto siyang gumalang… Kung bisita ka, dapat aligned ka sa gusto ng INC sa rally na ito. Bakit siya ang naiba.”