Senator Imee Marcos stunned the public during the INC Rally for Peace when she openly alleged that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and his family had long struggled with drug abuse. The revelation didn’t just shock many—it also underscored the growing tensions between the Marcos and Duterte political camps.
After the livestream, netizens flooded social media with reactions, many framing the controversy as part of an intensifying political power struggle. On X (formerly Twitter), some criticized Imee for publicly airing private family matters while also calling out what they viewed as contradictions in her past support for her brother and her alliance with Sara Duterte:
“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 pointed out the political irony of calling for transparency and accountability at the rally while figures from both the Marcos and Duterte camps have faced their own controversies over corruption:
“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.”
The rift between Marcos and Duterte loyalists was equally visible on Facebook. Some users attacked President Marcos directly, echoing past accusations from Duterte allies:
“Kaya pala ayaw mo magpa Hair follicles drugtest Mr Bongbong Marcos dahil confirmed pala ang sinabi ni dating pangulong Du30 na isa kang adik.”
Meanwhile, others fully supported Imee, demanding accountability and calling for scientific validation:
“Gustong paingayin ni Sandro ang usap-usapang hindi ako tunay na kapatid. Isa lamang ang solusyon: Magpapa-DNA TEST ako, magpaHAIR FOLLICLE TEST sila. Pakshet‼️ GO SEN Imee ‼️”
Still, many neutral commenters offered a broader criticism of both political families, framing the dispute as proof of longstanding dysfunction and moral compromise:
“Wait, sinong mas bangag, yung adik na tumakbong presidente o yung kapatid nung adik na pinangampanya pa ang kapatid nya para maging pangulo ng Pilipinas kahit alam na pala nyang adik ito? Tong mga Marcos na to kahit kelan talaga o … Marcos-Duterte walang pinag-iba!”
What began as a shocking allegation has escalated into a political flashpoint—exposing fractures in the Marcos–Duterte alliance and fueling a national debate over loyalty, governance, accountability, and trust.