EXECUTIVE Secretary Lucas Bersamin clarified on Tuesday that the Office of the President is not involved in the impeachment complaint filed against Vice President Sara Duterte.
Responding to reporters’ queries regarding the complaint endorsed by Akbayan Party-list Representative Perci Cendaña, Bersamin stated:
“The impeachment complaint filed in the House of Representatives by several private citizens is clearly the complainants’ independent initiative, and its endorsement is the prerogative of any Member of the House of Representatives. The Office of the President has nothing to do with it.”
He also reiterated President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s earlier position, describing it as “unambiguous.”
Marcos had previously voiced his disapproval of any impeachment plans against Duterte, emphasizing their lack of relevance to improving the lives of Filipinos.
“This is not important. This does not make any difference to even one single Filipino life, so why waste time on this?” Marcos said. “If somebody files an impeachment, it will tie down the House, it will tie down the Senate. It will just take up all our time, for what? None of this will help improve a single Filipino life. As far as I’m concerned, it’s a storm in a teacup.”
Calls for impeachment arose following Duterte’s controversial remark suggesting she would have President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez killed if she were ever assassinated. Duterte later clarified that her statement was “taken out of logical context.”
Despite her clarification, her remarks have drawn criticism from several government officials and legal experts, fueling discussions over the propriety of her conduct in office.