FORMER Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos on Sunday dismissed allegations that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. once used illegal drugs, saying the claim does not match the President’s medical history and personal decisions.
Speaking to reporters after the “Lakad Kontra Droga” event in Mandaluyong City on November 23, Abalos described Marcos as an “ulirang anak,” recalling how the then-young Marcos donated a kidney to his father, the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., in the 1980s.
“Put this on record: kung mayroong isang anak na uliran na mahal niya ang tatay niya, ‘yan si President Bongbong Marcos,” Abalos said.
According to him, Marcos made the decision in his 20s despite uncertainties about how a major operation would affect his long-term health. “Hindi mo alam kung ano ang epekto sa iyo… will he have the same quality of life, magiging baldado ba siya? No one knows. Pero iisa ang alam natin — ganoon magmahal ang ating Pangulo,” he added.
Abalos also argued that Marcos’ medical condition contradicts the allegation made by Sen. Imee Marcos that her brother used illegal substances. “Ang ating Pangulo ay asthmatic. Tell me: kung iisa ang kidney mo, kung asthmatic ka pa, hindi ka nga dapat magsigarilyo… magda-drugs ka pa ba?” he said.
“Look how we ask these questions… ‘yan ba ang isang drug addict? I beg to disagree. Ang sinasabi ko ay factual,” Abalos added.
He maintained that Marcos’ kidney donation is proof of his character: “He’s living on one kidney, at ito ay sa pagmamahal ng anak sa kanyang ama. Ganiyan ang ugali ng ating Pangulo.”
Sen. Imee Marcos earlier made the explosive allegation during a massive rally organized by members of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC), saying her brother had used illegal drugs, a claim Malacañang has since dismissed.
