Ilocos Norte ‘unshaken’ amid Marcos family rift

Despite a rare public feud within the Marcos family over drug allegations against the president, Ilocos Norte, the family’s political stronghold, is showing little sign of shifting its allegiance.

The controversy erupted this week after Senator Imee Marcos publicly alleged that her younger brother, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos have long struggled with the use of illegal and recreational drugs. The senator’s remarks, made at a large rally in Manila, quickly ignited a national political crisis.

However, in Ilocos Norte, the atmosphere remains subdued. Interviews with residents in Laoag City and surrounding towns suggest that many locals view the confrontation as an internal family matter rather than a political fracture.

“It feels like a family quarrel,” one local said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “They both helped Ilocos Norte in many ways. This issue doesn’t erase that.”

Local political figures are also exercising caution. Sources indicate that municipal and village officials are avoiding public statements or engagements that might signal alignment with one sibling over the other.

This restraint reflects a deep-seated political dynamic. Political science research suggests that in areas dominated by long-established dynasties, internal family disputes rarely translate into shifts in voter loyalty, as historical attachment and continuity of services often override personal disagreements.

Prof. Herdy L. Yumul of Mariano Marcos State University said it is extremely unlikely for provincial leaders to endorse any political move hostile to the president. He added that while local officials are careful in their public posture because Senator Marcos still commands significant respect in the region, the province’s loyalty to the family remains intact.

The family rift became national news after Senator Marcos’ speech at the Iglesia Ni Cristo’s three-day “Rally for Justice, Transparency, Accountability, and Peace.”

House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos, the president’s son, flatly denied his aunt’s assertions, stressing in interviews that neither his father nor the first lady used illegal substances. Senator Marcos later amplified the controversy by publicly inviting the president and the first family to voluntarily undergo a hair-follicle drug test.

The feud unfolds amid a perceived weakening of the political alliance between the Marcos and Duterte families, with public disagreements over budgets and infrastructure spending creating a climate of political maneuvering ahead of the 2028 national elections. The drug accusations surfaced amid ongoing controversies concerning large infrastructure projects linked to allies of both political families.