PBBM Insists on No Hand in Impeachment of VP Sara Duterte
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has clarified speculations that he is involved in the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte and insisted that he had no role in the sudden submission of Articles of Impeachment from the House to the Senate.
In a press briefing held on Thursday, the President explained that any impeachment process is not within the purview of the executive branch, which is why he cannot have any influence or direct involvement in it. “No, the executive cannot have a hand in the impeachment. The executive has no role in impeachment,” Marcos said.
This issue arose after 215 congressmen, led by his son, Ilocos Norte Representative Sandro Marcos, signed a petition to move the impeachment of VP Sara Duterte. Following this, President Marcos denied that the impeachment case was an action related to his office.
Marcos was also questioned by reporters about the possibility that the impeachment would not succeed without the President’s blessing. Marcos again denied these statements and emphasized that Congress has the freedom and right to proceed with the impeachment cases.
“You give me too much credit. Again, what the House has done, is clearly the constitutional mandate they have to proceed with the impeachment complaints,” the President said. He pointed out that his name should not be attached to the House’s actions, which are the sole responsibility of its members.
When President Marcos was asked about his son Sandro Marcos’ signing as the first congressman to sign the impeachment complaint, the President admitted that his son consulted him about it. However, the President clarified that he did not know that he would be the first signatory of the impeachment case.
According to him, he told Sandro, “‘It’s your duty now to support the process, so do your duty. That’s what I told him. Do your duty. You have to support the process. You are constitutionally mandated to carry out that process and you are a congressman so do your duty. I didn’t know that he will be the first to sign though,”
He said he did not interfere in Sandro’s decision and insisted that as a congressman, it is his son’s duty to support the process and carry out his responsibilities as a member of Congress. He said he also did not know that his son would be the first to sign the Articles of Impeachment passed by the House.
For now, the President said the ball is in the Senate’s court, and the senators have the responsibility of how they will handle the impeachment case. The President said he expects the Senate to decide whether to proceed with the steps regarding this, and it is up to them to decide what action to take.
It is important for President Marcos to make it clear to the public that he did not intervene or give any directive regarding this issue, and that Congress has the power and responsibility to proceed with any impeachment process. The Senate alone will judge the outcome of this matter, so it is expected that the next steps will come from them.
