Family feud wracks Marcos political dynasty

The Filipino nation is being treated to a highly charged drama of sibling rivalry right at Malacafiang Palace. It is not even a pillow fight where the sister is helping push her brother out of the Palace, where both of them spent their growing up years as young adults. President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (PBBM) and Sen. Imee Marcos erupted in televised washing of dirty linens against each other.

- MARICHU A. VILLANUEVA

This full-blown family feud has dragged down not just the First Family but the entire Marcos political clan. PBBM’s namesake father, former president Ferdinand Sr,, might be squirming in his grave. We could only speculate how Sen. Imee’s namesake, wheelchair-bound mother, former first lady Imelda Marcos, is taking all these nasty exchanges between two of her three children. The youngest, Irene Marcos-Araneta, has remained low-key and out of politics.

Sen. Imee, an ally of PBBM’s estranged running, mate-turned-arch critic Vice President Sara Duterte, had accused PBBM, First Lady Liza Marcos and their three sons of being drug addicts during an anti-corruption rally of religious group Iglesia ni Cristo last week. Sen. Imee also urged her younger brother to end his suffering and that of the nation to undergo treatment and “come home.”

While PBBM earlier ignored it, his eldest son, House Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Sandro Marcos, took up the cudgels for him. Describing the drug allegations as “baseless,” Cong. Sandro rued his aunt’s remarks were “not the act of a true sibling.” In turn, Sen. Imee announced her readiness to undergo “a DNA test” if PBBM and the First Family subject themselves to hair follicle drug test.

At the press conference in Malacanang last Monday, PBBM appeared - or so it seemed - reluctant to respond to the latest public tirades of his sister, citing the issue involved “family matters.” After a visible heavy sigh, the 68-year-old President did not address the drug use issue but opened up his heart to public.