President Marcos Clarifies Stance on Vice President Sara Duterte Impeachment
The recent developments surrounding the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte have raised questions about President Marcos’ position. Contrary to some perceptions, not supporting the impeachment does not indicate a disregard for transparency and accountability, officials from Malacañang clarified.
Palace representatives explained that while the President initially opposed the impeachment of his former ally, this opposition was based on the belief that there are other legal avenues to ensure accountability. A Palace press officer emphasized, “Maliwanag po ang sinabi ng Pangulo na sa simula po ay ayaw niya talaga po ng impeachment dahil maaaring mayroon pong ibang mga legal na pamamaraan kung dapat mapanagot ang dapat mapanagot.”
The Impeachment Trial and Executive’s Role
Since the vice president has already been impeached, the matter is no longer within the President’s control. Malacañang officials stressed that the President’s earlier suggestion against impeachment was simply a preference, not a dismissal of due process. “Pero ngayon po, ang bise presidente po ay impeached na, wala na po sa kamay ng Pangulo ito. Iyon naman po ay kaniyang suggestion lang, kung maaari ay ayaw niya ng impeachment. Ang sabi po ng Pangulo, proseso,” the spokesperson added.
It was further clarified that the impeachment trial is outside the scope of the Executive branch. The President does not intend to interfere but urges that legal procedures be followed strictly. “Sa pagkakataon pong itong impeachment trial, alam po natin that impeachment trial is not the business of the Executive. Hindi po makikialam ang Pangulo patungkol po diyan pero sinabi po niya na dapat umandar ang proseso, irespeto ang due process. So, ito po ay nasa kamay na ng mga prosecutors, nasa kamay na po ng Senado. ‘Pag sinabi po nating proseso, dapat sundin ang batas,” the Palace official said.
Upholding Due Process and Public Vigilance
The responsibility now lies with the prosecutors and the Senate, who will conduct the impeachment trial. The public is encouraged to observe the proceedings closely and form their own judgments. Officials reiterated the importance of respect for the legal process, stating the President’s desire for the rule of law to be upheld throughout.
The Palace representative concluded, “Proseso ang nais ng Pangulo, huwag po nating kalimutan ‘yan,” emphasizing the commitment to a fair and transparent process.
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