Marcos addresses VP Duterte's House impeachment, says he has 'no role' in it
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has addressed the issue of Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment, denying his involvement in the matter.
The president on Thursday spoke during a media briefing in Malacañang, saying that he is removing himself from the ongoing proceedings.
"The Executive (branch) cannot have a hand in this impeachment. Walang role ang Executive sa impeachment. Of course, did we discuss it with the Speaker? Did we discuss it with the other congressman? Of course. Tinatanong, anong plano ninyo? Ano ba talagang gusto ninyong gawin? And nandito na ito eh, hindi natin maiwasan," he said.
Just a day before, the House of Representatives impeached Duterte, a process that could remove her from office if convicted. Presidential son and Senior Deputy Majority Leader Sandro Marcos was the first to sign the fourth impeachment complaint against the vice president.
When asked if his son sought his advice, Marcos said, "Of course." He revealed that he asked Sandro to support the impeachment process, emphasizing that it is his constitutional duty.
"Sabi ko kay Sandro, ‘The process has already begun. So, it’s your duty now to support that process. So do your duty. You have to support the process. You are constitutionally mandated to carry out that process. And you’re a congressman so do your duty,’" he shared with the press, adding that he "didn’t know he’d be the first to sign."
In the same briefing, Marcos recalled asking lawmakers not to pursue an impeachment case against Duterte amid the latter's attacks and threats against him.
"Sinabi ko na sana wag na tayo mag impeachment dahil madami ibang trabaho at actually it’s also not practical," he shared. "Kaya’t kung titignan naman ninyo, yung mga kaalyado ko sa House of Representatives, wala sa kanila ang nag file, sumunod naman sila sa hiniling ko sa kanila na wag sila mag file ng impeachment dahil hindi maganda ang timing at marami pang problems."
Despite multiple impeachment cases filed against Duterte, President Marcos stated, "Sinabi ko sa inyo noong tinanong niyo sa'kin, sabi ko 'I’ll deal with it.' Totoo. If you remember, my words were this ‘Once the impeachment complaints were filed, they have no choice. The House has no choice, the Senate has no choice. Kailangan nilang iproseso ang impeachment complaint.'"
However, Marcos maintains that this isn't a "defiance" of his earlier request.
"I’m sure the parties that filed the impeachment cases felt strongly about it. And despite my importunings, and expressing my opinion that we really would rather have not an impeachment, they continue to do that. It’s not defiance," he told the media.
"I don’t view that as defiance, I view that as expressing what they feel to be right," he emphasized.
During the Kapihan sa Senado forum earlier in the day, Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero was asked why the Senate went on break on Feb. 5 without tackling Duterte's verified impeachment complaint, which was transmitted to them by the House of the Representatives.
"Una, 'yun 'yung schedule namin. Huling araw namin kahapon, magbebreak talaga kami at magreresume matapos ang halalan sa June 2. Walang rason para magbago o baguhin 'yun kahapon," he explained.
"Hindi pa naman officially informed ang Senado, ang plenaryo, kaugnay sa paghahain ng impeachment complaint dahil dadaan pa ito sa isang proseso sang-ayon sa rules and practice at procedure ng Senado kaugnay ng mga impeachment complaints," he added.
Duterte was formally impeached by the House of Representatives on Feb. 5 after 215 lawmakers have voted to impeach Duterte.
The total membership of the House is 306, which means that at least 102 signatures, or one-third of the lower legislative chamber, are needed for the case to go up to the Senate for trial.
