Imee Marcos says she will not back Sara Duterte impeachment

Senator Imee Marcos on Wednesday, 07 January 2026, did not mince her words when asked if she is willing to participate in a fresh impeachment attempt against Vice President Sara Duterte should it proceed anew in the Senate.

“Wala akong balak na tumulong sa impeachment na ’yan,” Marcos told reporters in a press briefing.

(“I have no plans to help with the impeachment.”)

Last year, the Supreme Court ruled that the impeachment complaint against Duterte was unconstitutional, barring any attempt to file a case against the second-highest official until 6 February.

With this, no trial in the Senate will proceed, as it cannot acquire jurisdiction.

Marcos also brushed aside questions on whether a renewed impeachment complaint against Duterte, her longtime ally, would be stronger.

“Wala akong alam sa ganyan. Wala akong nakikitang karagdagang grounds,” she said.

(“I have no idea about that. I do not see any additional grounds.”)

However, Marcos said she would remain objective should Duterte’s impeachment trial eventually move forward.

“Alam naman natin na kaibigan natin ’yan. Pero tatayo kaming huwes sa impeachment and trial court kung aabot sa ganoon,” she said.

(“We know she is our friend. But we will stand as judges in the impeachment and trial court if it comes to that.”)

“Lahat ’yan magbabase sa ebidensya, pero sa ngayon, wala naman tayong nakikitang ebidensya pa. Hindi ko alam kung anong gagamiting katibayan sa kanya, kung may bago pa, kung mabigat ba. We’re speculative at this point,” Marcos added.

(“All of that will be based on evidence, but right now, I do not see any evidence yet. I do not know what evidence will be used against her, if there is anything new, or if it is serious. We are speculative at this point.”)

Marcos earlier lamented budget cuts to several major projects, including the Metro Manila Subway and the North-South Commuter Railway, whose allocation was reduced from P121.5 billion to P49.2 billion.

She also cited cuts to foreign-assisted projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways, which fell from P70 billion to P17 billion.