Allegations of Forced Signature on Impeachment Complaint
Navotas City Representative Toby Tiangco raised a controversial claim on May 17, suggesting that Ilocos Norte 1st district Rep. Sandro Marcos was compelled to sign the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte. This allegation came during a televised interview where Tiangco, who managed the Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial slate, insisted that the House’s impeachment proceedings significantly weakened their campaign efforts in Mindanao.
“Yun talagang nagsimula yung problema namin noong nag-file ng impeachment case ang House of Representatives against kay VP Sara,” Tiangco said, referring to the filing as the starting point of their challenges.
The Role of Sandro Marcos in the Impeachment Complaint
The impeachment complaint was signed by a total of 215 House members on February 5, just days before the official campaign period began. Among the signatories, Rep. Sandro Marcos was notably the first to affix his signature.
During the interview, a host pointed out the apparent contradiction between Tiangco’s claim of Alyansa’s disadvantage and Rep. Marcos’ prompt endorsement of the complaint, which seemed to imply the President’s approval. Given that President Marcos endorsed the Alyansa candidates, this raised questions about internal dynamics.
Tiangco responded, “OK. I had a private conversation with Congressman Marcos. But ah, let’s leave him out of this kasi hindi naman siya talagang pasimuno nito eh.”
He added, “Ang tingin ko naipit rin siya dito eh,” suggesting that Marcos might have been caught in the middle of the situation without being the true initiator.
Clarifying the Meaning of “Naipit” in the Context
The Filipino term “naipit” used by Tiangco can imply being forced, coerced, or trapped in a difficult position with limited options. When asked to explain, Tiangco reiterated his stance: “I had a private conversation with him (Rep. Marcos), regarding this, let’s leave him out of this kasi hindi naman siya yung nagpasimuno ng impeachment.”
Despite this, Tiangco was unable to fully elaborate before the interview shifted.
Sandro Marcos’ Own Account on Signing the Complaint
In a separate interview conducted shortly after the complaint’s submission, Rep. Marcos defended his decision to sign. He expressed that his signature was a natural response to serious accusations made by Vice President Duterte.
“Now, as to why I was the first one to sign, alangan naman kung sasabihin ang tao na gusto lang huhukayin yung lolo mo at itapon yung katawan sa West Philippine Sea (WPS), sabihin niya gusto niyang patayin ang Pangulo at ang First Lady na ang aking magulang, at gusto niyang patayin ng Speaker, eh, bat naman nagugulat ang tao na papirma ako dyan?” he explained.
He emphasized that such grave statements from a high-ranking official cannot be ignored, adding, “Of course I’ll be the first one to sign. That should come as no surprise. And so that’s why I was the first one to sign.”
Marcos’ Position on Influencing Other Signatories
Rep. Marcos also clarified that he neither led the push for the impeachment complaint nor persuaded other House members to sign. “I was given the opportunity to sign and I did sign but I did not spearhead any movement or I did not try to convince anyone to sign. I think they did that on their own volition,” he stated.
Current Status of Vice President Sara Duterte’s Impeachment Trial
Vice President Duterte is currently undergoing trial before the Senate, which acts as the impeachment court. The charges against her include misuse of confidential funds, falsification of documents, and culpable violation of the Constitution.
Among the specific allegations is the misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds. Additionally, she faces accusations of threatening to kill President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and Speaker Martin Romualdez.
For more news and updates, visit Filipinokami.com.