Imee’s claims vs. PBBM lack evidence – civic leader

Dr. Jose Antonio Goitia, representing different civil society groups, reacted to Senator Imee Marcos’ revelations that his brother, President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. is a long-time drug user, adding that the presidential sister’s allegation is bound to collapse under its own weight.

Goitia said the lady-senator’s confirmation of the President’s drug use during the second day of the anti-corruption rally of Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) at the Quirino Grandstand may be loud and confrontational, but none of these claims may be considered factual.

Goitia – chairman emeritus of Alyansa ng Bantay sa Kapayapaan at Demokrasya (ABKD), People’s Alliance for Democracy and Reforms (PADER), Liga Independencia Pilipinas (LIPI) and Filipinos Do Not Yield (FDNY) Movement – said Imee’s explosive statements about her brother were not supported by any evidence. 

He said, “What she delivered was spectacle not substance. When someone makes accusations this serious without a shred of proof, it is not bravery. It is recklessness. The Filipino people deserve truth, not emotional outbursts pretending to be national warnings.”

Goitia added “accusing a sitting president of drug use is one of the gravest allegations a public official can make (and) it demands ironclad evidence.”

“Imee provided nothing. No records. No verification. No documentation. Just a microphone, a crowd and a narrative crafted for maximum shock value,” he asserted. 

The civic leader challenged PBBM’s sister directly: “If evidence exists, show it. If none exists, stop dragging the entire nation into a personal meltdown. We cannot allow unverified claims to destabilize the republic.”

Goitia cited that the fact that President Marcos Jr. voluntarily underwent a drug test at St. Luke’s in 2021 and the result for cocaine was negative. Hospital officials even testified before the Senate to confirm its validity.

“This is not a loophole. This is a documented test. If the accusers truly believed their own claims, then this decisive step destroys their narrative completely,” he pointed out.

Also, the attempt to implicate First Lady Marie Louise ‘Liza’ Araneta-Marcos only reveals the desperation behind the narrative Goitia branded as black propaganda. 

“Liza has a consistent record of professionalism and restraint. She has never been associated with the kind of behavior Imee insinuated. To smear her without evidence is not only dishonest, it exposes the pettiness of the attack,” he stressed.

“Dragging the First Lady into this without basis is a cheap shot. It is gossip dressed up as concern. It insults the intelligence of the Filipino people,” he further stated.

Goitia said anyone observing the President closely can see his schedule is full, his decisions steady and his leadership consistent.

“You cannot claim impairment when the evidence shows discipline, clarity and active governance. Leadership is measured by action. The President continues to work, continues to lead and continues to deliver. Rumor cannot erase results.

“Imee’s public outburst is not a service to the nation. It is a spectacle rooted in resentment, not responsibility. Filipinos cannot afford to have national discourse dictated by a sibling’s emotional explosion. Family drama – no matter how explosive – is not a substitute for credible information,” he emphasized.

Goitia warned that “loose talk weakens the country and if officials want to be taken seriously, they must speak with evidence—not emotion, not theatrics.”

“The country has real battles to fight. Economic recovery, security and national stability all require focus and unity. What they do not require is a politician firing accusations that evaporate under scrutiny. Until genuine evidence is presented, Imee’s claims remain nothing more than noise,” he concluded.