Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a press briefing on Monday that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will not be monitoring the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, as the president has government work to focus on.

Castro said Marcos would only be informed of developments in the trial but would not devote his time to watching the proceedings, saying, “The President does not need to monitor it."

The impeachment proceedings against Duterte formally opened months after the House of Representatives approved the Articles of Impeachment against the vice president.

“The president has much more work to do and will not simply sit down to watch the impeachment trial,” Castro added.

Duterte is facing culpable violation of the Constitution, with complaints on betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption, unexplained wealth, and misuse of confidential and intelligence funds, among other allegations, all of which she has denied.

Meanwhile, Castro also refused to comment on proposals to lower the number of votes needed to convict an impeachable official amid concerns over the participation of several senators facing legal issues of their own.

“We will not interfere in whatever resolution may be reached on that issue; that is for the Senate to decide and implement,” Castro said.

Marcos has repeatedly maintained that the impeachment proceedings are a constitutional process that should proceed independently, without interference, despite the political implications of putting his former mate on trial.