Metro Manila, Philippines – Malacañang on Friday said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has not issued any directive on the looming trial of impeached Vice President Sara Duterte, which is best left for the Senate, in response to what it called unverified social media information that Cabinet secretaries were told to avoid the issue and focus on public service.
“Wala pong anumang balita patungkol sa pag-pursue ng pangulo sa impeachment, o sa impeachment trial ni VP Sara. So, iyan po ay ating tinututulan at pinasisinungalingan po,” Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro during a press briefing.
[Translation: There is no truth to any claim that the President is pursuing the impeachment or the impeachment trial of VP Sara. We strongly deny and refute that.]
She said while the president had instructed Cabinet members to focus on the implementation of government programs, and that the impeachment proceedings are now in the Senate.
“Ang mabi-verify ko po sa inyo, totoo pong ipinag-utos ng pangulo na dapat asikasuhin po namin ang trabaho, dapat madaliin po ang pag-i-implement ng mga proyekto na nais niya para sa taumbayan. Pero pagdating po sa impeachment, iyan po ay nasa kamay na po ng Senado, nasa kamay na rin po ito ng mga prosecutors,” she explained.
[Translation: What I can confirm is that the president indeed ordered us to focus on our work and to expedite the implementation of the projects he wants delivered to the people. But when it comes to the impeachment, that is already in the hands of the Senate and the prosecutors.]
In February, Marcos himself reiterated that the executive branch has no part in the move to oust Duterte as it is a constitutional function reserved for the legislative branch.
Under the 1987 Constitution, the House of Representatives has the exclusive power to initiate all cases of impeachment, while the Senate has the sole authority to try and decide them. The impeachment process is independent of the executive and judicial branches.
Castro said President Marcos has neither made any statement suggesting confidence in the outcome of the trial nor has he endorsed any action on the issue.
