Palace: Imee’s drug remarks part of destabilization

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang branded as a destabilization move Sen. Imee Marcos’ claim that her brother, President Marcos, and his wife Liza are using illegal drugs.

In an interview over radio dzBB yesterday, Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said the objective of the senator is to remove the President from his office.

“This is part of destabilization. Even though she did not say, ‘you should step down,’ that’s still her objective,” Castro said.

The Palace press officer added that Senator Marcos has an agenda in discrediting her brother.

“Should the people still believe Senator Imee? Senator Imee seems to have an agenda regarding her allies and friends. Should the people still believe Senator Imee, a member of Team Itim?” Castro added.

Vice President Sara Duterte had endorsed Senator Marcos’ reelection bid in May this year in a black-themed campaign ad.

“Senator Imee wants President Marcos to be removed from his position to elevate her Team Itim,” Castro said.

Castro added that the drug issue against the President has been an issue for a long time.

“You can clearly see from the President’s appearance, how he thinks, how he works…Who is acting like an addict now? The President is not having a meltdown. The President is not threatening lives. He looks very decent, so who is acting like an addict?” Castro asked.

She said the Palace was surprised why Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) allowed the speech of Sen. Imee.

“Sen. Imee’s slander is not surprising, but for her to tell such a lie, especially at an INC peace rally, is a bit surprising because that is not the INC’s agenda as far as I know. The INC leader allowed her to speak on stage, stating that the INC’s main agenda is to fight corruption, so maybe the INC was surprised too…I don’t know if the INC knows her script,” Castro noted.

She added that while the statement of Sen. Imee was libelous, it is up to the President to decide whether to charge her.

Meanwhile, Malacañang also debunked a social media post appearing to quote First Lady Liza Marcos’ reaction on Imee’s allegations.

“That is fake news,” Communications Secretary Dave Gomez said.

Not a true sister

House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos said his aunt Imee has crossed the line for accusing his parents of being drug addicts.

“This is not the behavior of a true sister,” the young Marcos said in a strongly worded statement.

The congressman rebuked Imee for what he described as a web of lies meant to destabilize the administration and push “her own political ambitions.”

“I have always acknowledged and respected the role my Tita, Senator Imee Marcos, played in the early part of my public life. That respect remains, which is why this will be the first and last time I will be speaking on this,” Marcos said.

But that respect, he added, has been met with accusations that cross a line.

Imee, on Monday night, appeared before the INC crowd at Quirino Grandstand and in a lengthy speech – accused the first couple as well as their kids of long-standing drug addiction.

She said she hasn’t spoken to her brother in three years.

DNA, follicle tests

Claiming that Rep. Sandro is out to fuel rumors that she is an illegitimate child, Imee issued a dare to the first family – she will undergo a DNA test if they would take a hair follicle test to determine drug use.

Malacañang immediately rejected Imee’s offer.

“We will repeat, repeat, repeat – we will not give in to what the noisy ones say. This has been resolved a long time ago. I will repeat, repeat – the President is clean and the President will not give in to any incitement, incitement by destabilizers, incitement by obstructionists,” Castro said at a press conference.

Reacting to the issue, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson called Imee’s outburst as “un-Filipino,” saying sibling disputes should have been kept within the family. — Jose Rodel Clapano, Neil Jayson Servallos