Bersamin: BBM not blocking impeach move vs Sara

President Marcos is not interfering with the constitutional mandate of Congress, but was simply expressing his personal stance in discouraging lawmakers from impeaching his ally-turned-arch foe Vice President Sara Duterte, according to Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin.

- Helen Flores

Being a co-equal branch of government, Bersamin said the Chief Executive cannot dictate on the House of Representatives.

"All we were saying, the President was saying to the Lower House was, 'this is my position' - but he is not blocking (the impeachment), he cannot do that. Because it is the discretion of the collective of the Lower House. If they decide to initiate, there is no way of preventing that," Bersamin said at a press briefing after attending a budget forum in Pasay City.

On Wednesday, ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro, Gabriela Women's party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas and Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel of the Makabayan bloc blamed Marcos for the “unprecedented delay” in processing the impeachment complaints against Duterte.