Pres. Bongbong Marcos Insists VP Sara Duterte’s Impeachment under the Legislative Branch
BONGBONG MARCOS – The President denied having a role anew on the impeachment process of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte.
The Senate, as an impeachment court, remanded the Articles of Impeachment against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte but Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero clarified that it does not mean a dismissal or termination of the case. According to the Senate President who is the presiding officer of the impeachment court, it is a chance for the House prosecution panel to address questions.
The senator judges included two (2) things in the approved motion to remand Duterte’s impeachment to the House — the issue on the constitutionality of the impeachment of Vice Pres. Duterte and a requirement of reconfirmation from the 20th Congress.
The voting of the senators on the motion judges came shortly after they took their oath. Eighteen (18) senator judges supported the motion to remand the Articles of Impeachment while five (5) senator judges opposed to it.
YES
- Alan Peter Cayetano
- Pia Cayetano
- Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa
- JV Ejercito
- Chiz Escudero
- Jinggoy Estrada
- Bong Go
- Lito Lapid
- Loren Legarda
- Imee Marcos
- Robin Padilla
- Bong Revilla
- Francis Tolentino
- Raffy Tulfo
- Joel Villanueva
- Cynthia Villar
- Mark Villar
- Juan Miguel Zubiri
NO
- Koko Pimentel
- Risa Hontiveros
- Sherwin Gatchalian
- Grace Poe
- Nancy Binay
Truth be told that despite his silence on the issue, Pres. Bongbong Marcos is accused of wanting to remove Vice Pres. Sara Duterte from office. It is no secret to the public that there is an ongoing rift between the highest and the second-highest officials in the government. The Chief Executive has repeatedly claimed that he is against the impeachment though.
Recently, in his latest podcast, Pres. Bongbong Marcos spoke anew on the impeachment process of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. He was asked about his views that the President has a say on the decision of the Senate impeachment court despite the separation of powers between the executive and legislative branches in the government.
Based on a report on GMA News, Pres. Bongbong Marcos said he chooses not to have a say in the decision of the Senate impeachment court. He also stressed that he is preoccupied with his work.
“Siguro (Perhaps) if a president chooses to do that, I choose not to… That’s not my, I’m busy with the transport, with the rice, all of the different things that we are doing,” he said.
Marcos Jr. added that his time is being spent on things regarding his job. Based on the report, he also stressed that he has no role in the impeachment process of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte.
“Nauubos ang oras ko doon. Put it bluntly. Wala naman akong papel doon sa impeachment eh,” the President said.
Now that the 19th Congress has adjourned, a new set of senator judges are expected to join the impeachment court if the impeachment trial proceeds in the 20th Congress. Recently, some senators-elect have aired their sides — senator-elect Erwin Tulfo believes that Duterte’s impeachment trial should proceed to the 20th Congress while senator-elect Kiko Pangilinan asserted that the Senate impeachment court’s duty is to “try and decide”.