A Family Feud Ignites Political Firestorm

MANILA—Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has publicly denied explosive allegations from his estranged elder sister, Senator Imee Marcos, that he is a long-time cocaine addict whose habit has impaired his governance. The accusation, made during a large religious rally in Manila on Monday, 17 November 2025 (EAT), has plunged the nation's first family into a public feud, which the president's office claims is a deliberate distraction from a sweeping anti-corruption investigation.

In her speech, Senator Marcos alleged, without providing evidence, that her brother's drug use began during their father's authoritarian rule and has persisted, affecting his health and leadership. She further implicated the president's wife, Liza Araneta-Marcos, and their children as drug users, noting that she and her brother have barely spoken since he assumed office in 2022.

Government Points to Corruption Probe as Motive

The presidential palace issued a swift and sharp rebuttal through Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro, who dismissed the claims as "baseless" and a "desperate move." Castro suggested the senator's attack was designed to divert attention from ongoing investigations into a massive corruption scandal involving flood control projects, which may implicate allies of Senator Marcos. "Senator Imee, I hope you’ll be a patriot and help in the investigation that your own brother has been doing and condemn all the corrupt," Castro stated, urging the senator not to side with or hide those implicated.

The scandal in question has sparked widespread public outrage in the typhoon-prone nation. Since taking office, President Marcos has initiated probes by an independent commission, a Senate committee, and other government agencies into allegations that billions of pesos were lost to substandard, incomplete, or non-existent flood-control projects due to kickbacks pocketed by influential lawmakers.

Global Implications of a Dynastic Dispute

The bitter public dispute between the children of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr., who was ousted by a "people power" uprising in 1986, offers a compelling look into the volatile nature of dynastic politics. While the events are unfolding thousands of kilometers away, the themes of high-level corruption, political infighting, and the weaponization of personal allegations resonate globally, including in nations like Kenya that also contend with powerful political families and persistent governance challenges.

The situation in the Philippines underscores the inherent difficulties in pursuing anti-corruption measures, especially when the trail may lead to powerful figures with close political or familial ties to the leadership. The use of personal attacks as a potential smokescreen for systemic corruption is a tactic observed in various political arenas worldwide. For Kenyans and the wider East African region, this episode serves as a pertinent example of how internal power struggles within a ruling elite can threaten national stability and distract from critical governance and development agendas.

Kenya and the Philippines have maintained diplomatic relations since 1967, with ongoing efforts to enhance bilateral trade and investment in sectors like the blue economy, tourism, and renewable energy. The first meeting of the Philippines-Kenya Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation was held in Nairobi in February 2023, with a second scheduled for Manila in 2025. While this political turmoil in Manila is unlikely to directly impact these diplomatic efforts, it provides a crucial context for understanding the political landscape of a key partner in the Southeast Asian region.

An Uncertain Path Forward

The feud has fractured the Marcos family, with the president's son, Representative Sandro Marcos, calling his aunt's accusations "dangerously irresponsible" and a bid to "destabilize this government to advance her own political ambitions." Senator Marcos, meanwhile, has become a prominent ally of her brother's predecessor and critic, Rodrigo Duterte. As the government's corruption investigations continue to unfold, the deep-seated animosity within the Philippines' most famous political dynasty is set to remain a defining feature of its political landscape, with significant implications for the country's governance and the fight against corruption.