Marcos Clarifies Role in Vice President Sara Duterte’s Impeachment Trial
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. firmly stated on Saturday that he will not comment on the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, emphasizing that he has no involvement in the process. This stance highlights his decision to stay out of the ongoing political controversy surrounding Duterte’s impeachment case.
In Part 2 of the BBM Podcast: Episode 2, which aired on the same day, Marcos was asked about allegations that personal or political interests have caused delays in the impeachment process. Responding in a mix of English and Filipino, he clarified, “All impeachment processes are in the legislature. It’s between Congress and the Senate.”
He added, “It’s not my… I’m busy with the transport, with the rice, with all of the different things that we are doing that consume my time there.” The President reiterated, “I had no role in the impeachment.”
Maintaining Separation of Powers in Impeachment
When questioned about claims that he might influence Congress’s decisions despite the separation of powers, Marcos responded plainly, “Maybe if a president chooses to do that; I choose not to.” This statement underscores his respect for the independence of the legislative and judicial branches in handling impeachment matters.
This is not the first time Marcos has addressed questions about Duterte’s impeachment, especially since she was once his political ally. On May 27, he openly expressed that he did not want Duterte removed from the vice presidency.
He said, “How many times do I have to say that? I didn’t want the impeachment. My allies didn’t file the complaint. And I could not order or tell those who filed the complaint what they should do.”
Background of the Impeachment Case
Vice President Sara Duterte was impeached by the House of Representatives on February 5 after 215 lawmakers signed a complaint citing grounds such as “culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust and graft and corruption.”
The Senate convened as an impeachment court on June 10. However, as the trial began, Senator-Judge Alan Peter Cayetano filed a motion to send the articles of impeachment back to the House. He argued this was necessary to ensure no constitutional safeguards or jurisdictional issues were violated.
The motion received support from 18 senator-judges, resulting in the impeachment court returning the articles to the lower chamber for further review.
President Marcos’ clear refusal to intervene in the impeachment trial shows his commitment to respecting institutional processes. He continues to focus on pressing national concerns such as transportation and food security.
For more news and updates on the impeachment trial, visit Filipinokami.com.