Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Tuesday called Senator Imee Marcos’ drug-use allegations against her brother, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., unacceptable behavior for a Filipino.

“Medyo napaka un-Filipino. Tayo, nakakasaksi ng pag-aaway ng magkakapatid pero confined sa bahay. Pero para magsalita ka sa harap ng daang libong tao sa Luneta, para sa akin, hindi katanggap-tanggap bilang isang Pilipino. Hindi tayo ganyang mga Pilipino,” Lacson said.

“Puwede niyang gawin—may ibang forum para diyan, huwag sa harap ng daang libong tao hayagan mong sisiraan, totoo man o hindi,” he added.

On Monday evening, Senator Marcos claimed before a crowd of hundreds of thousands of Iglesia ni Cristo members that the President and First Lady were drug addicts.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro swiftly refuted the “desperate” accusation, stating that the President tested negative for drug use in 2021, and that the lawmaker did not dispute the test result. She also noted that Senator Marcos’ ally, former President Rodrigo Duterte, has “admitted” to using marijuana and fentanyl.