Palace: BBM Still Against VP Impeachment

Malacañang yesterday reiterated President Marcos' opposition to moves to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte.

- By HELEN FLORES

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin made the statement when asked by journalists whether the peace rally of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) last Monday "had any effect" on the President's stance.

"The President's position on the impeachment move in the (House of Representatives) has not changed," Bersamin said in a statement sent to Palace reporters.

More than a million INC members gathered at a rally at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila to call for peace and unity amid steps to unseat the Vice President through impeachment.

The religious sect earlier said the peace rally was held to support Marcos’ rejection of calls to impeach the country’s second highest official.

Duterte is facing three impeachment cases, which accuse her of misusing millions in public funds and of plotting to have Marcos assassinated.

She has denied the allegations.

In November last year, Marcos said he does not support the impeachment of his former ally as it would not benefit the Filipino people.

“What will happen if somebody files an impeachment? It will tie down the House, it will tie down the Senate. It will just take up all our time and for what? For nothing, for nothing. None of this will help improve a single Filipino life,” the President said.

The INC, estimated to have more than two million members, is known for its bloc voting and is often courted by politicians, especially during election season.

The religious group backed the Marcos-Duterte tandem in the 2022 general elections.

No comment

Malacañang yesterday also declined to comment on the Vice President’s remarks that she is “seriously considering” running for president in 2028.

“No statement here,” Presidential Communications Office Secretary Cesar Chavez said.