The political landscape of the Philippines has been abruptly and fundamentally shaken by an unprecedented public declaration. Senator Imee Marcos, elder sister to the sitting President, delivered a profoundly moving and, at times, heartbreaking speech that went far beyond mere political commentary. In her address, she laid bare the decades-long private struggle of her brother, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., revealing a devastating personal crisis she claims has now metastasized into a national governmental failure, impacting the integrity and direction of the country.

Speaking before a mass gathering, her voice thick with emotion and trembling with the weight of her conscience, Senator Marcos painted a picture of a life-long family battle that has escalated to the highest echelons of power. The core of her testimony centers on her brother’s alleged persistent issue with substance dependency, an addiction that she asserts is now directly influencing his judgment, compromising the integrity of his administration, and fueling a “torrent of misdirection” and “wrong decisions.”

A Family’s Burden Made Public
Senator Marcos’s decision to speak out, she emphasized, was not made lightly. It was, she stated, a painful convergence of her duty as a Senator, her commitment to the Filipino people for “transparency, accountability, and justice,” and her profound love and concern as an older sister. She recalled their shared youth and the family’s long awareness of his dependency, citing her late father’s own observations regarding his character and activities.

A particularly poignant moment in her speech was the recollection of her personal attempts to intervene. She revealed that years ago, she had hoped marriage would bring stability and direction to her brother’s life. “I was greatly mistaken,” she confessed, noting that the problem only worsened after his union. Her account included disturbing details of alleged parties where substances were served, and even claims that her brother and his partner openly boasted about the practice of “micro-dosing,” allegedly dividing prohibited substances for consumption multiple times a day to avoid detection. She described a shocking scenario where, according to informants, the day would begin with a form of illegal substance consumption alongside breakfast.

The Senator detailed her active, but ultimately frustrating, efforts to guide him toward a healthier path. She spoke of her success in compelling him to address his health concerns, only to later learn that what was being framed as medical treatment, such as “stem cell” procedures and “blood transfusion” to manage conditions like gout, were, in her belief, efforts to cover up the ongoing substance use.

The Presidency and the Price of Silence
The transition of her brother from a private citizen to the Head of State only amplified the personal crisis. Senator Marcos recounted her deep apprehension during the 2016 vice-presidential campaign when her brother’s name appeared on a list connected to a major anti-substance campaign. She admitted to personally intervening with the then-President, pleading for him to focus on the distributors and spare the user, which she believes led to her brother being removed from immediate public scrutiny at the time.

Her most damning claims were reserved for the period of the 2022 presidential campaign and the subsequent three years in office. Senator Marcos noted that she worked tirelessly to build the campaign, but as soon as her brother secured the candidacy, she found herself “banished” from the headquarters and cut off from all campaign reporting. This exclusion, she believes, was a coordinated effort by those around him who were eager to protect their position and enable the continuation of his lifestyle.

The Senator admitted that her despair reached such a point that she almost welcomed his temporary disqualification, having received fresh reports of his substance use from inside his own campaign team. She fought back against accusations from her brother’s circle that she sought his disqualification for her own political gain, asserting that her sole concern was his well-being and, by extension, the nation’s. “How can he serve if he is in that condition?” she challenged.

The distance between the siblings, Senator Marcos lamented, grew wider after the election. She confessed that for three years, she avoided visiting Malacañang Palace, claiming the environment was openly permissive of substance use and heavy drinking. The Senator publicly questioned her brother’s recent public appearances and statements, expressing her fear that his dependency has fundamentally altered his personality, his speaking patterns, and his cognitive processes, noting that he appears “out of touch with himself.”

A Dire Warning and a Sister’s Plea
Senator Marcos did not stop at criticizing her brother’s personal choices; she directly linked them to the apparent instability in his administration. She alleged that his condition is being exploited by the people surrounding him, individuals she referred to as “acting as president.” This opportunistic circle, she claims, is using the President’s vulnerabilities to “plunder the nation’s coffers” and “seize the opportunity to destroy everything.”

In a profoundly tragic turn, she revealed that the crisis has now extended to the next generation, expressing her heartbreak and rage that her own nephews—her brother’s children—are now allegedly engaging in similar harmful activities. The Senator claimed her own children and other relatives were even offered prohibited substances by her nephews, a transgression she declared she “will never forgive.”

The culmination of her speech was an impassioned plea addressed directly to her brother, filled with the raw emotion of a life-long protector. “Bonget, it’s been three years since we’ve truly spoken,” she said, imploring him to listen now. She reminded him of her unwavering love and their shared past, offering him unconditional forgiveness and a safe haven. “The personal struggle has now caused profound illness in the entire Filipino nation,” she declared.

Her ultimate call was not for political removal, but for a personal surrender and healing. She urged her brother to “come home, rest, get treated, and recover.” “I can handle losing the position, but I cannot bear losing you,” she stated, concluding with a powerful affirmation of her commitment as his sister: to fight his addiction with him, to pray for his recovery, and never to leave his side. Her speech, which has resonated deeply with those who have experienced addiction in their own families, serves as a stark and painful reminder that no level of power can shield one from personal demons, and that the cost of such struggles can ultimately be borne by an entire nation.