FACT CHECK: Senator Imee Marcos Retains Senate Position Despite Family Tensions
A viral social media post falsely claimed that Senator Imee Marcos was removed from the Senate by her brother, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The claim is categorically false.
The misleading Facebook post, published on November 30, 2025, garnered over 600 reactions and spread rapidly across social media platforms. It claimed: "Nakakagulat na balita! Inalis si Imee Marcos sa Senado matapos siyang kasuhan ni PBBM."
Constitutional Facts
Senator Imee Marcos remains a sitting member of the Philippine Senate. Under our constitutional framework and the principle of separation of powers, the President has no authority to remove or impeach any senator.
Article VI, Section 16 of the 1987 Constitution clearly states that only the Senate itself can discipline its members. The provision requires a two-thirds vote of all members to suspend or expel a colleague, with suspension limited to 60 days maximum.
Senator Marcos is expected to complete her current term, which expires on June 30, 2025. Her tenure can only end prematurely through resignation, death, impeachment conviction by the Senate Electoral Tribunal, or expulsion by her Senate colleagues.
Political Context Behind the Misinformation
The false claim likely emerged from the intensifying political rift between the Marcos siblings, which became public following former President Duterte's ICC arrest in March 2025.
Senator Marcos, who had aligned with the Duterte faction, withdrew from the President's senatorial slate in protest of the administration's cooperation with the ICC warrant implementation.
Tensions peaked on November 17, 2025, when Senator Marcos publicly accused the President of drug use during an Iglesia ni Cristo rally, stating: "Ayusin mo ang sarili mo. Magpagamot. Alisin ang droga sa iyong sistema."
President Marcos later expressed concern for his sister's well-being, telling reporters: "The lady you see talking on TV is not my sister... I hope she feels better soon."
Defending Democratic Institutions
This incident underscores the importance of understanding our constitutional processes. While family disputes may capture public attention, our democratic institutions operate according to established legal frameworks that protect the independence of each branch of government.
Citizens must remain vigilant against misinformation that undermines public understanding of how our government functions, particularly during periods of political tension.