Marcos opposes VP's impeachment, but won't meddle with the process

Not favoring the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte does not mean President Marcos is dismissing transparency and account-ability as there could be other legal means to hold erring officials accountable, Malacañang said.

- BY BETHEENA UNITE

Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro pointed this out during a Palace briefing on Friday, May 30, where she also stressed that the President defers to the government process and upholding due process.

She said it was true the President has been opposing the impeachment of his former ally from the very start.

However, his opposition to it does not mean he is not for transparency and accountability.

"What the President said was clear that from the very start, he was not in favor of the impeachment because there could be other ways to hold those involved accountable," Castro said. "But now, the Vice President has been impeached, this is no longer in the hands of the President. That was just his suggestion, if possible the impeachment will not happen. The President defers to the process." The Palace press officer also underscored that the impeachment trial is not the business of the Executive.

But the President wants the process to be followed, and due process to be upheld.

She reiterated that the President will not get himself involved in the impeachment trial against Duterte.

"The President will not meddle with it but he said he will let the process find its course and due process must be respected. This is already in the hands of the prosecutors and the Senate. If we talk about process, the law must be followed," Castro said.

She also said that it is now up to the prosecutors and the Senate. The impeachment trial is now in their hands, and the people should watch closely and judge the impeachment trial.

The Palace official further said that the prosecutor and senators, who will be serving as judges, must perform their roles as senator-judges.

"The President wants to follow the process, let us not forget about that," she said.

Impeachment schedule draws mixed views