Marcos Denies Involvement in Vice President’s Impeachment
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. firmly reiterated his opposition to the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte, making it clear that he neither initiated nor supported the complaint. Speaking after the 46th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, the President emphasized that no allies in Congress filed the impeachment complaint against Duterte.
“How many times do I have to say that? I didn’t want impeachment,” Marcos stated on the evening of May 27. He clarified that those who filed the complaint are independent and not under his influence. “Yung mga nag-file ng impeachment complaint, hindi mo masasabing kaya kong utusan o pagsabihan na ito ‘yung gagawin mo,” he added.
Marcos further explained that while he is not involved, the House of Representatives and the Senate will decide how to proceed with the case. “Mostly sa Senado, pero siyempre nandiyan pa rin ang House dahil sila mag-prosecute,” he said, referring to the Senate as the primary venue for the trial while the House acts as prosecutor.
Upcoming Trial Compared to Past Impeachment Processes
The President compared the current situation to the 2012 impeachment trial of former Chief Justice Renato Corona, a proceeding he witnessed as a senator. “We were making rules as we went along. And I think that’s what will happen here, too,” Marcos noted.
Vice President Duterte, who is currently in Qatar, faces trial in the Senate following the House’s approval of the impeachment complaint. The charges include alleged misuse of confidential funds during her tenure as Education Secretary and public statements perceived as threats against President Marcos, the First Lady, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Despite pressure from some political allies to halt the trial, Marcos insists that the legal process must run its course without interference.
Rejecting Conditions for Reconciliation
President Marcos also addressed suggestions from Duterte’s allies, including Senator Bong Go, that reconciliation between their camps should come with conditions. Some proposed demands involve efforts to bring former President Rodrigo Duterte back from the International Criminal Court.
“No, no, no, no, no. That’s not how reconciliation works. You don’t put conditions to reconcile,” Marcos said firmly. He urged sincerity, stating, “If you’re sincere, you want to reconcile, let’s sit in front of each other. Ano ba talaga ang problema? Paano nangyari ito? Tanggalin natin ang problema.”
He rejected the idea of making political dialogue contingent on demands: “Pero yung sasabihin mo, hindi ako makikipag-usap hanggang ibigay mo sa akin ito, ito, ito—eh walang pupuntahan ‘yan. That’s not even a negotiation. That’s demanding.”
Marcos affirmed his genuine openness to reconciliation without preconditions, saying, “Kung talagang tapat ako na nais kong mag-reconcile, eh isipin ko lang, lahat nang hiningi mo, lahat ng hinanakit mo—eh kung kaya ko ayusin, ‘di ayusin ko para tapos na ‘to. Ayoko nga ng kaaway.”
President’s Call for Unity
Since his first podcast episode, President Marcos has expressed a desire to reconcile with all political rivals, including the Duterte family. He remains committed to resolving differences through honest dialogue rather than demands or ultimatums.
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