Malacañang hopes senators 'fair' in handling Sara Duterte impeachment case

Malacañang on Tuesday expressed hope that senators will showcase fairness once the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte are transmitted to the Senate.

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro emphasized that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. will not interfere with the impeachment proceedings in the upper chamber.

“Everything that happens in the Senate is, it is within their power, it is within the authority to decide on all matters within the Senate. So, hindi po panghihimasukan ng Pangulo ‘yung anuman po ang magiging desisyon ng Senado (the President will not interfere in whatever the Senate decides),” Castro said at a press briefing.

This, after the House of Representatives—for the second straight year—impeached Duterte on Monday on allegations of culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, betrayal of public trust, bribery, and other high crimes.

The House of Representatives in 2025 voted to impeach Duterte with 215 yes votes, but the Supreme Court declared the impeachment void after the High Tribunal found it unconstitutional.

Castro acknowledged that more lawmakers in the House voted in favor of Duterte’s impeachment this year as compared to the previous year. There were 257 House members who voted “yes” this time, higher than the 215 last year.

“Nagdesisyon po ang House of Representatives at nakita malamang nila ang mga ebidensya. Sabi nga nila ay mas dumami pa ang sumang-ayon na ma-impeach sa pangalawang pagkakataon ang Bise Presidente at ito marahil ay ayon sa mga nakita nila na mga documents or mga ebidensya na maaaring maging dahilan para ma-impeach ang Bise Presidente,” she said.

(The House of Representatives made a decision based on evidence. They said that more members voted to impeach the Vice President the second time and this was probably due to the documents or evidence they saw that could be grounds for impeaching the Vice President.)

“At sana kapag ito ay napunta na rin sa Senado ay maging patas ang mga manghuhusga, ang mga senador natin. Para ito naman ay sa taumbayan,” she added.

(We hope that when this goes to the Senate, the judges, our senators, will be fair. This will be for the people.)

Asked how confident is Malacañang that the Senate will convene as an impeachment court and will hold trial, Castro said, “Trabaho po ito ng Senado (this is the Senate’s job).”

“So, hindi po manghihimasok ang Pangulo. Nasa Senado na po ‘yan, nasa kamay na po ‘yan ng Senado. At kung anuman po ang gagawin nila diyan kung ito po ay papabor para sa taumbayan o papabor lang sa iisang tao ay bahala na po ang taumbayan na humusga para sa kanila,” she continued.

(So, the President will not interfere. It is already in the hands of the Senate. And whatever they do there, whether it is in favor of the people or just in favor of one person, it is now up to the people to judge for them.) — RSJ, GMA News