Marcos on influencing Sara Duterte impeachment: I choose not to

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has said it is his decision not to influence the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte, insisting that the matter is in the hands of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Marcos made the remark in an episode of the BBM Podcast on Saturday, when he was asked about views that the President has a say in the decision of the impeachment court even with separation of powers between branches of government.

"Siguro [Perhaps] if a president chooses to do that, I choose not to," Marcos said.

Duterte has brushed off Marcos' pronouncements that he was not in favor of her impeachment, as their feud continued to simmer with lawmakers pressing forward with House investigations and endorsing the impeachment complaint to the Senate.

Advocacy groups, meanwhile, have called out Marcos for conveying a supposed lack of urgency to make Duterte accountable. Marcos has said the impeachment will take Congress' attention away from passing important pieces of legislation.

Speaking on the podcast, Marcos reiterated that he has been preoccupied with lowering retail prices of rice and improving public transportation, among other initiatives of his administration.

The Chief Executive stood pat that the impeachment process lies with the legislative branch. 

"That's not my, I'm busy with the transport, with the rice, all of the different things that we are doing, that, that nauubos ang oras ko doon. Put it bluntly. Wala naman akong papel doon sa impeachment eh," the President said.

(That's not my, I'm busy with the transport, with the rice, all of the different things that we are doing. My time is devoted to these things. I have no role in the impeachment.)

In an interview during a support rally in Melbourne, Australia on Sunday, Duterte said that she hopes to see “some sort of truth to his statements” regarding prioritizing Filipinos over her impeachment.

“Good for him, and so we hope to see some sort of truth to his statements that he is focusing on helping our fellow Filipinos and doing something for the country.  Unfortunately, if you talk to the ordinary citizens and the Filipino community abroad, we don't see anything at all,” she stated.

“He gives conflicting statements, truly the very first day of his administration. In fact, he has not followed through with any of his campaign promises… I have problems with his performance as president and I have problems with the violations of our fundamental law, our constitution,” she added.

Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero has denied that Marcos was behind the delay in the presentation of the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate.

Relations between Marcos and Duterte, running mates in Eleksyon 2022, have turned frosty following House probes into the drug war under the administration of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, as well as the handling of confidential funds by offices under her leadership.

Last Thursday, House Secretary General Reginald Velasco said the Vice President will not be attending Marcos' fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 28.

Malacañang has said it is her choice if she prefers not to attend the event. — with Jiselle Anne C. Casucian/VDV/BM, GMA Integrated News