A viral social media claim that Senator Imee Marcos was removed from her position after her brother, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., filed a case against her is false. The fact-check confirms she continues to serve as a senator. This misinformation arises amid a public family feud.
On November 30, 2025, a Facebook post claimed that Senator Imee Marcos was removed from the Senate after being sued by her brother, the president. It garnered over 600 reactions, 400 comments, and 20 shares, and spread across other platforms. However, she remains an active member of the Philippine Senate.
The president lacks the authority to remove or impeach any senator, under the principle of separation of powers. Article VI, Section 16 of the 1987 Constitution states that only the Senate can punish, suspend, or expel its members. "Each House may determine the rules of its proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of two-thirds of all its Members, suspend or expel a Member. A penalty of suspension, when imposed, shall not exceed sixty days," the charter declares.
Senator Marcos is expected to complete her term until June 30, 2025, unless she resigns, dies, or faces impeachment or expulsion. The false claim likely stems from the escalating family rift, which became public after the International Criminal Court arrested former President Rodrigo Duterte on March 11, 2025, for alleged crimes against humanity in his "war on drugs."
Imee, aligned with the Duterte faction, left the president's senatorial slate in protest against the administration's handling of the ICC warrant. Tensions heightened on November 17, 2025, at an Iglesia ni Cristo rally, where she accused the president of drug use: "Kaya kong mabigo at mawala sa ’yo ang posisyon pero hindi ko kayang mawala ka sa amin. Ayusin mo ang sarili mo. Magpagamot. Alisin ang droga sa iyong sistema."
The president responded by expressing concern for his sister's well-being: "For a while now, we’ve been very worried about my sister. When I say we, I’m talking about friends and family. And the reason that is — is because the lady you see talking on TV is not my sister…I hope she feels better soon."