President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his elder sister, Senator Imee Marcos, have not been on speaking terms for nearly three years, Malacañang disclosed on Tuesday.
During a Palace briefing, Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro revealed that she personally verified the status of the siblings’ relationship with the Chief Executive following recent public remarks made by the senator.
Senator Imee Marcos had previously described her relationship with her brother as “non-existent” and recently claimed that the President has been “in and out of the hospital since November 2025,” sparking public concern regarding his health.
”Immediately after the UPLIFT Committee meeting, I approached the President and asked about this comment or statement of his sister, Senator Imee Marcos. And he said, yes, they haven’t spoken for almost three years,” Castro told reporters.
Castro added that the rift has translated into family gatherings, noting that the lawmaker “has not been attending family gatherings, family events,” according to the President.
While the Palace did not elaborate on the specific root cause of the years-long strain, Castro emphasized that the President holds no animosity toward his sister.
”Tanungin n’yo po siguro si Senator Imee diyan dahil sa Pangulo po ay wala po siyang masamang anumang damdamin sa kanyang nakatatandang kapatid,” Castro said.
However, the Palace spokesperson noted that the President’s demeanor signaled quiet distress over his sister’s continued public commentary about him and his administration.
”Bago kasi siya sumagot ay pinag-isipan niya talaga. Sa aking paningin sa kanyang body language ay disappointed siya sa kanyang nadidinig na salita mula sa kanyang kapatid,” Castro added.
The relationship between the Marcos siblings has noticeably deteriorated publicly since 2023, with Senator Imee frequently aligning herself with the Duterte family and openly criticizing several key policies of her brother’s administration.