President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte is entirely up to Congress, stressing he has no role in the process.
Speaking to the media after the 46th ASEAN Summit in Malaysia on Tuesday night, May 20, Marcos Jr. reiterated his opposition to any impeachment effort.
“How many times do I have to say that? I didn’t want impeachment,” the President said.
He pointed out that none of his congressional allies filed the complaint. “Lahat ng kakampi ko sa Kongreso hindi nag-file ng impeachment complaint. ‘Yung mga nag-file ng impeachment complaint, hindi mo masasabing kaya kong utusan o pagsabihan na ito ‘yung gagawin mo,” according to him.
Marcos Jr. emphasized that impeachment is solely under Congress’ authority. The House of Representatives acts as the prosecution panel, while the Senate serves as the impeachment court.
He noted that the executive and legislative branches are co-equal under the Constitution.
“They (Congress) will have to decide between the two Houses how they are going to conduct this,” the Chief Executive said, recalling his experience as a senator during the 2012 impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona.
“We were making rules as we went along. And I think that’s what will happen here, too. So, we’ll see what happens,” Marcos Jr. concluded.IMT
