Malacañang on Tuesday rejected Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo Duterte’s insinuation that the first impeachment complaint against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. was staged.
Duterte had pointed to lawyer Andrei De Jesus, who prepared the ouster document, claiming he also represented First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos in a disbarment case against former Biliran Representative Glenn Chong.
Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro dismissed the allegation, stressing that neither the President nor his administration engages in intrigue.
“Ang Pangulo at ang administrasyon na ito ay hindi eksperto sa paggawa ng intriga at eksperto sa paggawa ng ebidensya,” Castro said.
She clarified that the First Lady was not involved in the disbarment case.
“Ang First Lady ay hindi nagsasampa ng disbarment case… kung nagsampa siya ng disbarment case, ito ay of his own volition. Hindi niya nirerepresent ang Unang Ginang,” she explained.
“Walang katotohanan… So sana po matapos na ang pagiging source of fake news ng mga kaalyado nila,” she added.
Castro also rejected Duterte’s claim that Marcos’ camp filed a “weak” impeachment complaint to bypass the Supreme Court’s ban on multiple cases in a single year.
“Hindi maganda sa imahe ng Pangulo na siya ay masampahan ng impeachment complaint,” Castro noted.
“Hindi din ito maganda sa pananaw ng mga ekonomista… Hindi ito bentahe, kahit sino pa ang nagsampa niyan,” she added.
The complaint, filed by Puson Pinoy Partylist Representative Jernie Jett Nisay, accuses Marcos of graft, corruption, culpable violation of the Constitution, and betrayal of public trust.
It follows the Independent Commission for Infrastructure’s recommendation to charge Nisay and seven other lawmakers for conflict of interest after securing government contracts while serving in Congress.