Eldest children can be bullies, but few to none have aired their beef with younger siblings on the political stage the way that Senator Imee Marcos has with her brother, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
The rift between Imee and Bongbong coincided with the fall of Uniteam, the Marcos-Duterte tandem, with Imee taking Vice President Sara Duterte’s side in the schism. Tension between the two has been fueled further by the recent Senate mess, with Imee and other senators of the majority bloc pulling no-shows following the arrest of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada.
On May 29, Imee lamented the “political persecution” of the majority bloc, with a few of its members facing plunder and graft allegations. Aside from Estrada, Senators Rodante Marcoleta, Francis “Chiz” Escudero, and Joel Villanueva are also being investigated by the Office of the Ombudsman for accusations of corruption.
In response to recent events at the Senate, Bongbong said, “Get back to work, because it’s important. Ang dami nating kailangang gawin.” During an ambush interview on Wednesday, June 3, the president also pointed out that the Senate has to inform the House of Representatives about cancelling sessions three days ahead, and must have a “very good reason” for doing so.
“I don’t think na ihahatid mo ang isang senador para pumunta kung saan siya pupunta, hindi yata sapat na dahilan ‘yan para i-cancel ang isang session,” he said. Imee was notably among the senators who accompanied Estrada out of the Senate building as he surrendered to authorities on Monday, June 1.
While Bongbong’s latest statement feels like a hit at Imee, the senator has thrown more shade towards her brother than the other way around since the beginning of the Duterte-Marcos feud. Here, we take a look at five of Imee’s shadiest moments in her rivalry with Bongbong.
Why Did Imee Marcos Side With Duterte After His ICC Arrest?
When Rodrigo Duterte was arrested and brought to the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) detention facility in the Netherlands in March 2025, Imee was quick to come to the former president’s defense, holding Senate hearings to assert that he was wrongfully arrested, and that the ICC has no jurisdiction over the Philippines. That month, she skipped the campaign rally of the administration-backed Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas, saying, “Hindi ko matanggap ang ginawa kay [Duterte].”
What Was Imee Marcos’ ‘ITIM’ Campaign?
As if to twist the knife she had stabbed her brother’s back with, she also had Vice President Duterte appear in her first campaign video after separating from Alyansa. “Ipaglalaban tayo ni Imee Marcos,” Duterte said in the video themed “ITIM,” which stands for “Inday [Sara] Trusts Imee Marcos.”
Why Did Imee Marcos Skip Bongbong’s 2025 State of the Nation Address?
Along with the vice president and Duterte-allied Senators Bong Go, Bato dela Rosa, and Robin Padilla, Imee skipped the president’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) in July 2025. She told reporters that her absence had nothing to do with her own feud with Bongbong, but also said, “Nakikiisa lamang ako sa Duterte Bloc po at hindi naman talaga pupunta.”
Imee Marcos Accuses Bongbong of Illegal Drug Use at INC Rally
In November 2026, Imee attended the Iglesia ni Cristo’s (INC) Rally for Transparency and a Better Democracy, during which she gave a speech accusing her brother of illegal drug use. “Batid ko na nagda-drugs siya,” she said. In response, Bongbong told the press that the family was worried about Imee’s well-being and that he “hopes she feels better soon.” He added, “The lady that you see talking on TV is not my sister.”
Bongbong’s Comment on Senate Crisis: ‘Clear Incursions’ by the Executive
On May 29, the senator once again criticized Bongbong amid tensions between the Senate’s minority and majority blocs. The president commented on the aftermath of the May 13 shootout between former Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca and agents of the National Bureau of Investigation, saying that the upper chamber was “sheltering fugitives from justice,” and that the Senate cannot function in the chaos. Imee said in response, “I think what the administration is doing to the majority bloc is already very obvious, since even the president is now lambasting the Senate […] These are clear incursions into the constitutional boundaries between the executive and legislative branches.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Their rift stems from the collapse of the Marcos-Duterte Uniteam alliance, with Imee siding with Vice President Sara Duterte against her brother’s administration.
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Yes, Imee Marcos skipped the 2025 SONA in solidarity with the Duterte bloc, alongside Senators Bong Go, Bato dela Rosa, and Robin Padilla.
At an INC rally in November 2026, Imee publicly stated she knew her brother used illegal drugs, prompting Bongbong Marcos to question whether she was well.
ITIM stands for “Inday [Sara] Trusts Imee Marcos.” It was Imee’s first solo campaign video after breaking from the administration-backed Alyansa slate.
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Imee accused the administration of political persecution, calling President Bongbong Marcos’ comment a constitutional overreach into the Senate’s independence.
