Marcos on Duterte impeachment: ‘I’m just a very interested observer’

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in a press briefing on February 6, distanced himself from claims of his involvement in the impeachment of his former ally and now-estranged Vice President Sara Duterte, saying he has been given “too much credit” and that he is merely an “interested observer.”

“From this point on, I’m just a very interested observer. But again, I don’t appear, I will not be part of it, not – there will be no representation from the executive. Why should there be?” Marcos said.

Marcos stated that his executive branch has no ‘formal role’ in the legislative processes of the House of Representatives, where two-thirds of its 306 members on Wednesday voted to transmit the impeachment complaint against Duterte.

“I have to keep reminding you. Wala kaming formal role in the entire impeachment process. If ever there’s an informal role. Makausap ko si Speaker, ‘yung congressman, si SP [Senate President] … Pero they will decide how they will proceed,” Marcos explained.

“The most that a president can do or any part of the executive can do is moral suasion. “Huwag na. Huwag na lang sana.” Eh wala, that didn’t work. So, we follow the process,” he added.

Since his opening remarks, Marcos' primary rebuttal regarding his supposed involvement in the impeachment has been his previous statements, where he strongly opposed it, citing poor timing and the many pressing issues the country still faces.

He added that he had even urged his allies in the lower chamber not to file the complaints.

“Kaya’t kung titingnan naman ninyo ‘yung mga kaalyado ko sa House of Representatives, wala sa kanila ang nag-file … Ngunit may ibang grupo, of course: the Makabayan group out of the House of Representatives, Senator Leila De Lima, the religious group nag-file nung tatlo,” Marcos said.

Marcos also stated that, despite his initial objections, Congress now has no choice but to process the impeachment complaint once it was filed.

“Once the impeachment complaints were filed, the House and the Senate, they have no choice. Nakatali na ang kamay nila. They have to do this and they have to do it in recognition of the complaints that have been filed,” the president remarked.

According to him, it is ultimately up to the Senate to determine how the complaints will proceed.

“Talagang we leave it to Congress, now, specifically the Senate, to exercise their own wisdom,” Marcos said.

On February 5, Duterte faced her fourth impeachment complaint, citing accusations of culpable violations of the Constitution, graft and corruption, betrayal of public trust, and other high crimes outlined in the submitted articles of impeachment.

On the same day, with 215 out of 306 members voting in favor, the House approved the transmittal of the articles of impeachment to the Senate for trial, just a day before the 19th Congress adjourned in preparation for the midterm elections.

However, the Senate never addressed the issue before adjourning on Wednesday; it will resume on June 2 after the elections with a new set of 12 senators.

As a result, Duterte, the first-ever Philippine vice president to be impeached by the House, will have to wait at least four more months for her trial in the Senate.

In response to a question raised during the recent briefing, Marcos stated that he is willing to convene a special session for the Senate to proceed with the impeachment trial—but only if the senators request it.

“Again, sila ang magde-decide. If the Senate President calls me up on the telephone: “the senators, kinausap ko ‘yung mga senador kung puwede bang mag-special session?” “Sure.” Gagawin ko. Pero kung wala silang request na ganoon, ibig sabihin may iba pa silang ginagawa. They are not yet ready,” he emphasized.