Imee rejects new impeachment effort vs Inday Sara

Senator Imee Marcos said Wednesday she has no intention of supporting a renewed impeachment attempt against Vice President Sara Duterte, even as a constitutional ban on filing such complaints nears its end.

The Supreme Court last year ruled a previous impeachment complaint against Duterte unconstitutional, triggering a one-year ban on new filings that expires 6 February. Until that date, the Senate cannot acquire jurisdiction over any trial.

“I have no plans to help with that impeachment,” Marcos said. “I see no additional grounds.”

Marcos, a long-time ally of the Vice President, said that while she would remain an objective “senator-judge” if a trial ever reached the Senate, she currently views the allegations as speculative.

“All of that will be based on evidence, but right now, I don’t see any evidence yet,” she said.

Separately, House Deputy Minority Leader Representative Terry Ridon dismissed claims that impeachment efforts are being fueled by promises of government projects. Ridon stressed that any proceedings after 6 February would be “quests for truth and accountability” rather than political bargaining.

The lady senator also addressed the nearly three-month absence of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa. Dela Rosa has not been seen in the Senate since 11 November 2025, following an arrest warrant issued by the Ombudsman in connection with the drug war under former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Marcos insisted that Dela Rosa is “still working” despite his physical absence and his failure to respond to text messages. She noted that he continues to sign official documents.

“He said his messages can be traced,” Marcos said of his lack of communication. “But what I know is that he is still working... so I guess the ‘no work, no pay’ rule is not quite right.”

Dela Rosa’s absence left a vacuum during recent budget debates for the Department of National Defense, which he was tasked to lead as vice chair of the Senate Finance Committee.

Marcos also expressed concern over significant cuts to major infrastructure projects in the national budget. She noted that funding for the Metro Manila Subway and North-South Commuter Railway was slashed from P121.5 billion to P49.2 billion.

Additionally, she lamented a reduction in the Department of Public Works and Highways’ foreign-assisted projects, which dropped from P70 billion to P17 billion.