KUALA LUMPUR — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. appeared visibly irked when pressed by reporters about the looming impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, a former political ally turned rival.
Speaking on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Marcos firmly denied any involvement in the impeachment proceedings, stressing that he did not instruct the House of Representatives to pursue the case against Duterte.
“How many times do I have to say that? I did not want impeachment. Lahat ng kakampi ko sa Kongreso hindi nag-file ng impeachment complaint,” Marcos stated.
He further clarified that he has no control over lawmakers who initiated the complaint, especially those outside his political circle.
“Yung mga nag-file ng impeachment complaint, hindi mo masasabing pwede kong utusan o pagsabihan na ‘ito ‘yung gagawin mo?,” he added.
On February 5, over 200 members of the House of Representatives endorsed the impeachment complaint, including the President’s own son, Ilocos Norte 1st District Representative Sandro Marcos, who was the first to sign.
The Senate is set to begin the impeachment trial on June 2 with the formal reading of the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Duterte.
Despite mounting calls from Duterte supporters for him to step down, President Marcos remains steadfast in his position, reiterating that resignation is not an option.
“I will resign? Bakit ko gagawin ‘yun? Wala sa ugali ko ang tinatakbuhan ang problema,” Marcos declared.
The impeachment proceedings come amid growing political tensions between the Marcos and Duterte camps, setting the stage for a high-stakes political drama as the country inches closer to the 2028 national elections.