Former president and PDP chairman Rodrigo Duterte has once again accused President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. of drug use, specifically heroin, claiming it will severely affect his mobility by the time he reaches 80 years old.
Duterte made the statement during the proclamation rally of PDP senatorial candidates at Club Filipino in San Juan City on Thursday, February 15. His remarks mark yet another instance of the former president publicly attacking Marcos.
“There is a president who is truly high [on drugs]. [He is not] insane, but drug addiction is a long-term problem. Marcos will lose his mind. Maybe with constant heroin use, he’ll live until 80, but by then, he won’t even be able to move,” Duterte said in Filipino.
This is not the first time Duterte has made such claims. In previous speeches, he repeatedly alleged that Marcos is a drug user, though he has yet to provide concrete evidence to back up his accusations.
The renewed attacks come amid a growing political divide between Duterte’s camp and the Marcos administration. PDP-Laban, which Duterte leads, has positioned itself as the opposition to Marcos’ government, especially after tensions escalated over the International Criminal Court (ICC) probe and political realignments ahead of the 2025 midterm elections.
Despite Duterte’s claims, Malacañang has not officially responded to the latest allegations. Marcos, for his part, has previously dismissed such accusations, saying they are politically motivated.
The rivalry between the two political factions continues to intensify as the country moves closer to the 2025 Senate and local elections, with Duterte actively endorsing candidates opposing those allied with Marcos.