An article and a video on various social media platforms are spreading the claim that Sen. Imee Marcos has been sentenced to life imprisonment after her brother, President Ferdinand Marcos, filed a case against her. This is false.
On Nov. 18, at least three publishers – a YouTube channel, Facebook page and a website – circulated the bogus claim. One of them bore the headline:
“HABANG BUHAY NA KULONG! GRABE SEN. IMEE MARCOS! KINASUHAN NI PBBM! WALANG PIYANSA! KAKAPASOK LANG!
(Jailed for life! Sen. Imee Marcos sued by PBBM! No bail! This just in!)”
To further pique people’s emotions, an image of a crying Imee Marcos was shown on their thumbnails. The picture, originally taken in 1993, has nothing to do with the issue.
The claim is not true and the headline is clickbait. The video and the articles were never once mentioned in the spurious claim.
The presidential sister is not facing any civil or criminal lawsuit filed by her brother. The senator had stirred controversy after she confirmed rumors about the chief executive’s alleged cocaine dependency at the anti-corruption rally organized by the Iglesia ni Cristo on Nov. 17.
Imee also said her brother’s drug addiction has affected his decision-making, leading to more corruption under his administration. This was promptly denied by palace officials.
In a Nov. 18 press briefing , however, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said the Palace had no plans to take legal action against the senator.
“Let us check first all the facts and the statements that she made. And it’s up to the DOJ, maybe Ombudsman, if they will make any initiative to end this matter,” she said.
YouTube channel Boss Balita TV (created on July 15, 2021) published the video, which received over 4,600 online engagements and 85,000 views. This was reposted by FB page Showbiz Whispers (Aug. 1, 2024) and website newsjer.com.
