He has spoken up about the impeachment of his former ally.
During a press briefing at Malacañang Palace on Thursday afternoon, February 6, President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos, Jr. faced the media a day after the controversial impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte.
“Maalala ninyo, nagsimula ang lahat ng ito… when I made the pronouncement, sinabi ko na… sana, huwag na tayong mag-impeachment dahil madaming ibang trabaho and it is also not practical.“
Marcos said that when he said this, he was hoping to dissuade people from filing the cases, as he was looking to focus on other matters.
He also shared that his allies in the House of Representatives heeded his call and did not take part in those who submitted the first three complaints in December 2024.
“Once the impeachment complaints were filed, the House and the Senate, they had no choice… they have to do this,” with the President adding that the Congress had to take action as part of its own Constitutional function.
PBBM also categorically denied having a hand in the motion to unseat VP Sara.
“No. The executive cannot have a hand in the impeachment. Walang role ang executive sa impeachment,” Marcos said.
Although, he revealed that he had discussed the matter with some lawmakers, including the Speaker of the House, who said to the President, “nandito na ito, hindi na namin maiwasan.“
“What the house has done is clearly in the… constitutional mandate that they have to proceed with the impeachment complaints,” PBBM added.
The President also divulged that his son, Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Sandro Marcos, consulted him about the voting on the fourth impeachment complaint that passed in the plenary of the House of Representatives’ on Wednesday.
Rep. Marcos was seen as the first person to have signed in the document.
PBBM recalled receiving a call from Cong. Sandro, who asked him about his opinion on what should be done during the signing of the manifesto.
“The process has already begun… it’s your duty now to support that process. So, do your duty,” the President shared what he told to his son.
Marcos also said that he does not view the events on Wednesday to be an act of defiance on his previous pronouncement, as he thinks that the representatives merely “expressed what they felt was right.“
During a plenary session on February 5, 2025, it was disclosed that 215 members of the House of Representatives voted to endorse a fourth impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte.
This number is more than the needed 102 votes or the third of 306 votes needed for the motion to be transmitted to the Senate.
The Senate formally received the articles of impeachment at 5:49 pm on the same day, although it was not able to be tackled in the plenary before the session was adjourned.
Although, in a separate briefing, Senate President Francis Escudero disclosed that it will return to session on June 2, weeks after the midterm elections in May.