Sibling rift surfaces as senator dares President to undergo hair follicle test; Palace urges focus on governance

The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) on Tuesday rejected Senator Imee Marcos’s call for President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and his family to undergo hair follicle drug tests, describing the demand as a recycled issue that distracts from urgent national concerns.

PCO chief Secretary Dave Gomez said similar allegations were raised during the 2021 presidential campaign, when Marcos Jr. voluntarily took a drug test. “Sabi ko nga lumang tugtugin na ito. Mas maraming importanteng bagay ang dapat tutukan ng ating Pangulo at ng ating pamahalaan, ng Kongreso, ng Senado, at ng executive department,” Gomez said.

The Palace stressed that the President remains focused on governance, citing his recent inspection of typhoon-hit areas in Bicol. Gomez also echoed the Catholic Church’s warning of a “pandemic of lies,” urging the public to be discerning in consuming and sharing information.

Senator Imee Marcos made the allegations during a rally of Iglesia ni Cristo at Quirino Grandstand, challenging her brother and his family to take drug tests. In a Facebook post, she added that she would undergo a DNA test herself, while daring the President’s family to take hair follicle tests. The senator has previously aligned herself with Vice President Sara Duterte under the “Team Itim” banner, fueling speculation about political motives behind her remarks.

House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos, the President’s son, quickly denied his aunt’s claims, defending his father’s integrity. Palace officials likewise dismissed the accusations as baseless and politically driven.

The exchange underscores tensions within the Marcos family and highlights the fragile alliance between the Marcos and Duterte camps, which has been marked by both cooperation and rivalry since the 2022 elections.