President Marcos: I never wanted Sara Duterte impeached
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., attends the plenary session at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Monday, May 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – Even as the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte is just a few days away, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday emphatically said he never wanted his former ally and running mate to be impeached by Congress.
In a press conference here after the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit, the President maintained that the ball is in the Senate’s court.
“How many times do I have to say that? I didn’t want the impeachment. My allies didn’t file the complaint. And I could not order or tell those who filed the complaint what they should do,” Mr. Marcos said.
A slightly irritated Chief Executive went on: “Why do I have to keep explaining that I don’t want the impeachment?”
He made the remarks when asked to comment on Duterte’s looming impeachment trial at the Senate when Congress resumes session on Monday.
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Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Malacanang press officer has similarly repeated that the President will not meddle in the Senate’s conduct of the impeachment trial, but urged senators to fulfill their obligations to the country and not just to one person.
After agreeing to impeach Duterte – Mr. Marcos’ ex-Uniteam ally – the House of Representatives transmitted the articles of impeachment to the Senate, which will then convene as an impeachment court.
It may be recalled that the President’s son, House senior deputy majority leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand Alexander Marcos, was the first to sign the verified impeachment complaint in the House.
Mr. Marcos expressed optimism that the impeachment trial of his former running mate will not end up in political chaos.
“I don’t think so. But you know, the legislators and the senators are going to decide on how to handle it. It’s up to them, and the House is also there. So they will have to decide on the rules,” he said, recalling that he was part of the impeachment of ex-Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona and that they made the rules as they went along.
