A Family Feud Played Out with Public Funds as Chess Pieces

By Louis ‘Barok‘ C. Biraogo — June 18, 2025

IN A nation where millions survive on less than $2 a day, two cousins from one of history’s most infamous political dynasties trade barbs in Manila’s gilded power corridors. Senator Imee Marcos and House Speaker Martin Romualdez, heirs to the Marcos legacy, are locked in a public feud that feels like a Shakespearean tragedy recast for the TikTok age. It’s 2025, midway through President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s term, with the 2028 elections looming like a storm on the horizon. The Marcos-Romualdez dynasty, forged in the crucible of Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s 20-year dictatorship, continues to shape Philippine democracy—a double-edged sword of influence and infamy. As poverty grips 16% of Filipinos, particularly in rural provinces like those these cousins represent, their clash raises a searing question: When political clans battle, who truly pays the price?

Deconstructing Imee Marcos’ Claims with Forensic Scrutiny

Imee Marcos has hurled explosive allegations at her cousin, claiming he bankrolled a P20 million-per-district scheme to push a people’s initiative for Charter change (Cha-cha). Yet, her accusations falter under scrutiny. Where is the paper trail—receipts, whistleblower testimony—to substantiate such a staggering sum? None has emerged, leaving her claims dangling like a kite with a broken string. Her stance on constitutional reform is equally inconsistent: she once backed the Marcos-Duterte UniTeam alliance, which flirted with similar reforms, only to pivot when it aligned with her Duterte loyalties Rappler, 2024. If she possesses evidence of corruption, why hasn’t she filed charges with the Ombudsman? The silence speaks volumes.

Her attacks reveal a credibility gap. Romualdez has steered 15 major bills through the House since 2022, including infrastructure and poverty alleviation measures, while Imee’s over 20 overseas trips—framed as diplomacy—draw scrutiny Malaya Business Insight, 2025. Their media strategies diverge sharply: Romualdez shuns the spotlight, while Imee’s TikTok dances and viral quips, amassing millions of views, court younger voters . Is this principled dissent or populist posturing?

Then there’s her critique of ayuda (financial aid). Imee questions lawmakers’ distribution of cash aid, implying political motives, yet World Bank data shows direct aid lifted 2 million Filipinos above the poverty line since 2022. This stance jars against the Marcos family’s documented history of wealth accumulation, estimated at $5-10 billion by global watchdogs like Transparency International. Her moral high ground resembles a mirage.

Scrutinizing Romualdez’s Stance: Duty or Design?

Romualdez’s defense warrants cautious credit. His concern about political dynasties—evident in breaking with family on votes like the 2024 ICC cooperation resolution—resonates in a Senate where 80% of seats are dynastic Inquirer.net, 2025. His budget oversight, reducing “pork barrel” insertions by 15% since 2023 per House reports, suggests transparency. Yet, is his low-profile approach humility or a calculated shield from scrutiny? Likely both. He’s championed reforms like the Magna Carta for the Poor, targeting the 26% poverty rate in his Leyte district, but sluggish implementation raises doubts about intent versus impact Malaya Business Insight, 2025.

Exposing Underlying Power Dynamics

This feud is less about governance and more about 2028 positioning. Campaign finance records show Imee’s Duterte alignment—backing their 2025 midterm candidates—secured her reelection, while Romualdez’s House supermajority, with 86% of pro-impeachment congressmen reelected, cements his influence Rappler, 2024. The UniTeam alliance, once a Marcos-Duterte marriage of convenience, is fracturing, with the Dutertes’ Mindanao base (where 30% live below poverty) clashing with Marcos loyalists . Is this about policy or power? Meanwhile, grassroots movements—like those fighting climate-driven floods in Samar—go unheard, drowned out by dynastic drama.

Healing a Fractured Nation: Barok’s Urgent Fixes

Immediate Actions:

Imee Marcos: Produce evidence for her P20 million corruption claims or retract them to restore public trust.
Martin Romualdez: Formalize ayuda distribution protocols, ensuring transparency to neutralize critics.

Systemic Reforms:

Anti-Dynasty Legislation: Enact laws with enforceable caps on family seats, modeled on Taiwan’s 2005 electoral reforms.
Independent Oversight: Establish a constitutional review body, like South Korea’s, to safeguard Charter change processes.

These steps demand leaders prioritize nation over lineage—a tall order for a dynasty steeped in legacy.

The Last Word: A Stark Warning

The tragedy isn’t that these cousins quarrel—it’s that their conflict distracts from a nation crying out for solutions. As Filipinos endure floods and hunger, this feud risks becoming a footnote in a story of resilience—or a warning of democracy’s fragility. Who will write the next chapter?