Imee nixes impeachment complaints vs. Duterte

The much-anticipated impeachment trial in the Senate against Vice President Sara Duterte has yet to take place, but one potential senator judge may already have made her position clear.

On Thursday, Senator Imee Marcos voiced her firm opposition to the impeachment proceedings against Duterte, whom she previously described as “close friend.”

According to the oldest sister of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., she does not support impeachment, destabilization, or a revolutionary government.

"I do not want an impeachment. I do not want destabilization. I do not want a revolutionary government. I do not want resignation. I do not want chaos," Senator Marcos said in a statement.

Rather than focusing on such issues, she called for prioritizing the country's real problems, particularly the high cost of goods, unemployment, and the lack of support for vulnerable sectors like farmers, PWDs, and seniors.

Senator Marcos stressed that impeachment and destabilization were not the solutions to the pressing challenges the country faces.

“Is impeachment and destabilization the solution? This is not the answer to the challenges we face. It is shameful!” she said.

Senator Marcos called on her colleagues to focus on alleviating the struggles of the poor.

“Let us prioritize responding to the suffering of the poor, so we can alleviate their hardship and achieve real change,” she said.

On Wednesday, the Senate adjourned its session without tackling the impeachment complaint against Duterte, despite the House of Representatives having transmitted the articles of impeachment to the chamber.

This was after a total of 215 lawmakers, or more than two-thirds of the House of Representatives members, supported the resolution to impeach Duterte.

Presidential son and Ilocos Norte 1st District Representative Sandro Marcos led the list of signatories in the complaint that hurdled the House of Representatives.

For Duterte to be convicted, the Senate, which will act as the impeachment court, must secure two-thirds of the votes — or at least 16 out of the current 23 senators.