GENERAL SANTOS CITY — A former Ateneo Law School classmate of First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos publicly defended her on social media following allegations raised by Senator Imee Marcos claiming that the First Couple are drug users.

City Councilor and lawyer Franklin Gacal Jr. took to Facebook to refute the claims, focusing specifically on the accusation that the First Lady uses illegal drugs.

“Is the First Lady (LAM) a drug addict?” Gacal wrote, clarifying that he was not speaking on behalf of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. but offering his personal account as someone who knew Araneta-Marcos closely during their law school years.

Gacal said he and Araneta-Marcos were classmates from their first year through bar review at Ateneo Law School in Makati — nearly five years of studying together as members of Batch 1985.

“For five years, I never noticed anything, nor were there rumors, suggesting she was taking illegal drugs,” he said. “Anybody who is taking drugs will never survive law school, especially Ateneo Law School.”

He added that Araneta-Marcos later served as a law professor in several universities, a responsibility he argues would be impossible for someone struggling with drug addiction.

“Definitely, a drug addict will not be able to withstand the rigors of the law academe,” Gacal said.

In a lighter remark, he quoted a humorous comment attributed to General Torre: “Pag adik, pangit. Look at that angelic face! Res ipsa loquitur — the thing speaks for itself.”

Gacal’s statement comes amid heightened public attention following Senator Imee Marcos’s comments, which have sparked renewed discussions and political tension.