President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has maintained that he has no involvement in the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte, rejecting claims that the administration is maneuvering to remove her as a potential rival in the 2028 elections.
Speaking in the final part of his podcast’s second episode, Marcos said that despite allegations linking him to the impeachment trial, he has chosen not to influence the outcome, emphasizing that the process is beyond his jurisdiction.
"Siguro if a president chooses to do that, I choose not to," Marcos said when asked about the perception that a president can influence an impeachment court. "Lahat ng impeachment process nasa lehislatura ‘yan. It’s between Congress and the Senate," he stressed.
Marcos reiterated that his focus remains on governance and addressing the pressing needs of Filipinos, particularly in agriculture and transportation.
"I'm busy with the transport, with the rice, with all of the different things that we are doing. My time is already consumed by those things. To put it bluntly, I don't have a role in the impeachment," he said.
Duterte earlier dismissed Marcos' remarks rejecting her impeachment as tensions between them persisted. Supporters of the Vice President have long alleged that the impeachment proceedings are a political tool meant to eliminate her from the 2028 presidential race. They also pointed to House Speaker Martin Romualdez as a likely presidential contender, although Romualdez’s camp has denied any ambition for higher office.
In the 2022 elections, Duterte secured 32.2 million votes, while Marcos garnered 31.6 million, fueling speculation of political rivalry between the two camps.
The impeachment complaint against Duterte stemmed from allegations of corruption and claims that she issued a kill order against Marcos and his relatives in the event of a purported plot to assassinate her. The House of Representatives approved the Articles of Impeachment in February, but the Senate has yet to conduct the trial.
On June 11, the Senate formally returned the Articles of Impeachment to the House of Representatives and issued a writ of summons for Duterte to respond to the charges. Senate President and Presiding Officer Francis Escudero confirmed that the proceedings have been postponed, citing procedural matters.
In the background of the political tension, survey results showed fluctuating public sentiment. A Pulse Asia survey conducted in March showed that Marcos’ approval rating dropped to 25 percent, while Duterte’s stood at 59 percent. Duterte’s trust rating was also notably higher at 61 percent, compared to Marcos’ 25 percent.
Despite the political noise, Marcos said his priority is governance, not political infighting.
“We did not yield. We continue to protect the sovereignty of the Republic. We continue to defend the territory of the Republic, and we continue to protect and defend the people of the Republic,” he said, emphasizing that his attention is focused on national concerns.