President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said that any impeachment complaint filed against Vice President Sara Duterte should be handled with the same level of rigor applied to investigations into anomalous flood control projects, according to Malacañang.
Meanwhile, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Marcos made the remark during a conversation with her last week when she asked about the possible refiling of an impeachment complaint against the Vice President.
The President did not explicitly express support for impeachment but stressed the importance of equal accountability.
Furthermore, Castro explained that Marcos’ statement meant that all cases should be investigated thoroughly, regardless of who is involved.
She said the President believes that if issues or anomalies are present, those responsible must be made to answer for them, similar to how flood control irregularities are being examined.
She added that Marcos would “respect the process” should a new impeachment complaint be filed, signaling a shift from his earlier position that impeachment efforts were unnecessary and unhelpful to the public.
Previously, Marcos had dismissed impeachment moves against Duterte, saying they would only distract Congress and would not improve the lives of Filipinos. He had described the issue as insignificant and a waste of legislative time.
In addition, the President’s recent remarks come as the Makabayan bloc reiterated its readiness to endorse a new impeachment complaint once the one-year ban imposed by the Supreme Court lapses in February.
In December 2024, four impeachment complaints were filed against Duterte, with the fourth—linked to the House inquiry into the use of confidential funds by the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education—receiving the endorsement of more than 200 lawmakers in February 2025.
That complaint led to Duterte’s impeachment by the House of Representatives, but the Senate later voted in August 2025 to archive the case following a Supreme Court ruling that declared the impeachment unconstitutional.
Written by Steven Bryle Tumandan, Insight PH
Steven Bryle Tumandan, Insight PH is a dedicated campus journalist and contributor. Their insightful writing sparks meaningful conversations and keeps the community informed.
