No talks with Marcos yet regarding Sara Duterte impeachment – Palace exec

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said Sunday there have been no discussions with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. regarding the impending impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. 

Castro said they were only told the President's position on the impeachment remains the same. 

“Hindi po eh. Makailang beses po kaming nagkita ni Pangulo, pero hindi po talaga niya nababanggit ‘yung impeachment sa amin. ‘Yun pa rin po, ‘pag tatanungin namin, let’s say tatanungin ‘yung impeachment, tungkol dito sa calling for special session, ang lagi lang binabato sa’min is ‘yun pa rin ang stance ng Pangulo,” Castro said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview.

(We don’t talk about it. I’ve met with the President a couple of times, but he didn’t bring up the impeachment. Whenever we ask him about the impeachment or the call for a special session, what is being said to us is that the President’s stance remains the same.)

“So wala pong pagbabago [there are no changes],” she added.

Marcos earlier said he would not support any impeachment move against the Vice President as it would not benefit the lives of Filipinos. He also believed that it is not the time to go through an impeachment process.

Last month, Marcos also denied that he had a hand in the impeachment of Duterte, but he disclosed that he is open to calling for a special session to tackle her impeachment “if the senators ask for it.

The House of Representatives impeached Duterte on February 5, with over 200 lawmakers endorsing the complaint.

Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero has released the initial timetable for procedures related to the impeachment trial of Duterte, setting the tentative start of the trial on July 30.

Duterte, for her part, has filed a Supreme Court petition challenging the validity and constitutionality of the fourth impeachment complaint against her. 

Asked regarding the other initial directives of the President to her, Castro said Marcos told her that there is no need to hear the gratitude of the people to the government, because it is their obligation as public servants to help. 

“Ang gusto niya ganito, kung may mga proyekto para sa taong bayan, ang gusto niya, hindi kailangan daw magpasalamat ang tao sa gobyerno. So napaka-wow ang bigat nito,” she said. 

(What the President wants is if there are any projects for the public, the people should not thank the government. This is a big deal.) — RF, GMA Integrated News