BATAC CITY, Philippines — Malacañang on Friday challenged critics to present concrete evidence behind accusations that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is meddling in the Senate impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte.
Speaking during a press briefing in Batac City, Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro stated that the burden of proof lies with those making the allegations, dismissing rumors meant to paint the administration in a negative light.
”Dapat nila munang patunayan kung totoong nakikialam dahil kung ito ay haka-haka lang nila ginagawa lamang nila itong intriga, binibigyan lamang ng negatibong impresyon ang Pangulo, ang administrasyon ay hindi po ito dapat sinasagot,” Castro said.
”Kung sino man kayong mga senador na nag-aakusa sa Pangulo at Malacañang at sa administrasyon na nakikialam ang Pangulo, sa anumang magiging outcome o magiging resulta ng pagpapasya ng Senado, patunayan ninyo po muna iyan bago kayo magsalita, dahil hindi po namin maaaring sabihin, hindi kami nakikialam o kami nakikialam kung wala kayong ipapakitang ebidensiya,” she added.
The remarks follow a Senate impeachment court decision on Wednesday, September 23, to lower the required voting threshold for a conviction, altering a July 6 rule that previously called for 16 votes.
The ruling has since been contested before the Supreme Court through a Petition for Certiorari and Prohibition filed on Thursday, September 24.
Addressing the legal challenge, Castro emphasized that the Executive branch is not a party to the petition and will defer entirely to the high tribunal’s decision.
”Unang-una po, sa petition for certiorari na isinampa sa Supreme Court hindi naman po party ang Malacañang, ang ehekutibo ay hindi party sa kaso. So, kung ano po ang magiging desisyon ng Supreme Court ito ay magiging parte ng jurisprudence,” Castro explained.
”So, ang jurisprudence kahit hindi party to the case should recognize, should respect dahil ito ay nagiging parte. Kung ano ang desisyon ng Supreme Court ito ang dapat na sinusunod,” she pointed out.
”So, sa ngayon kung anong magiging desisyon ng Supreme Court dapat tuparin, dapat igalang hindi lang sa panahon ngayon kung hindi sa mga susunod na henerasyon maliban lamang kung maaabandona ang kanilang magiging desisyon at magkakaroon ng panibagong tema o panibagong paniniwala at opinyon at jurisprudence or rather decision na siyang magiging bagong jurisprudence,” Castro stated.