Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has firmly rejected allegations of illicit drug use made by his estranged sister, Senator Imee Marcos, labeling them as unfounded and politically motivated. The accusations surfaced during an anti-corruption rally on Monday, where Senator Marcos claimed, without evidence, that her brother had struggled with drug addiction since their youth and that it continued to the present day. She further asserted that this alleged drug use was a catalyst for widespread corruption in the government. In response, Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro dismissed the claims as ‘a story without value,’ citing a 2021 drug test taken by President Marcos during his presidential campaign, which returned negative results. This is not the first time President Marcos has faced such allegations. His predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, had previously accused him of being on a ‘narco-list’ during Duterte’s tenure as mayor of Davao City, a claim denied by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency. Duterte, who is currently detained in The Hague over alleged human rights violations during his ‘war on drugs,’ remains a polarizing figure in Philippine politics. Senator Imee Marcos, an ally of Duterte, has distanced herself from her brother and has been critical of his policies, particularly his efforts to strengthen security ties with the United States, which contrast with Duterte’s pro-China stance. President Marcos’s son, Congressman Ferdinand Alexander ‘Sandro’ Marcos, defended his father, calling the allegations ‘a web of lies’ aimed at destabilizing the government. Meanwhile, President Marcos has initiated a comprehensive investigation into irregularities in infrastructure projects, particularly flood-control works, following an internal audit that revealed widespread substandard practices and corruption. The scandal has sparked public outrage, with many demanding accountability from implicated officials and lawmakers.