Malacañang on Wednesday rejected claims that any impeachment move against Vice President Sara Duterte requires approval from the Palace, stressing that the matter lies solely with lawmakers and not with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said members of the House of Representatives were elected to act independently and must be guided by conscience and evidence, not political signals from the executive branch.
“Alam po nating lahat na ang mga mambabatas ay binoto dahil sila po ay may puso, may talino at may konsensya,” Castro said during a Palace briefing.
“Alam nila na ang kanilang gagawing trabaho ay para sa taumbayan, hindi para sa iilan lamang,” she added.
Castro was responding to suggestions from some lawmakers that an impeachment bid against Duterte would need political clearance from Malacañang, a claim the Palace dismissed.
“Kung anuman po ang tinatrabaho o ginagawa po sa House of Representatives hindi po iyan saklaw ng ating Pangulo,” Castro said.
“So, sila na po, nasa pagdedesisyon po nila iyan,” she added.
The Palace emphasized that impeachment proceedings are a constitutional function of Congress and beyond the President’s direct involvement.