President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will not closely monitor the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, as he remains focused on governing and addressing the country’s pressing concerns, Malacañang said Monday.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the President has more urgent responsibilities than personally following the day-to-day proceedings of the Senate impeachment court.
“Hindi naman po kinakailangan mag-monitor ang Pangulo. Malalaman naman po din niya kung ano ang magiging balita rito (The President does not need to monitor it directly. He will know what the developments are),” Castro said in a Palace briefing.
“Mas marami pong dapat na trabahuhin ang ating Pangulo at hindi po siya uupo lamang para po manood ng impeachment trial (The President has many important matters to attend to and he will not simply sit down to watch the impeachment trial),” she added.
The Senate will formally convene as an impeachment court on Monday afternoon to begin proceedings against Duterte, who faces accusations of culpable violation of the Constitution, bribery, graft and corruption, betrayal of public trust and the alleged misuse of more than PHP612 million in confidential funds.
Under the Constitution, conviction requires the votes of at least two-thirds of all senators, or 16 out of 24 members. A conviction would result in Duterte’s removal from office and permanent disqualification from holding public office.
Asked about the President’s thoughts as the impeachment trial against his former running mate formally began, Castro reiterated the President’s longstanding position that public officials facing allegations should answer the charges against them through the proper legal process.
“Kung may kinakailangan pong sagutin ay dapat lamang pong sagutin. Kung kaya naman po na malinis ang mga pangalan ay dapat lamang pong gawin (If there are allegations that need to be answered, then they should be answered. If one’s name can be cleared, then that should be done),” Castro said.
“Mas maganda pong humarap sa nasabing trial para po siya na mismo ang sumagot ng mga akusasyon laban sa kaniya (It is better to face the trial so that she herself can respond to the accusations against her),” she added.
Castro also stressed that the Executive branch would not interfere in discussions within the Senate regarding the required number of votes for conviction.
“Hindi po makikialam ang Ehekutibo kung anuman po ang magiging resolusyon patungkol sa isyu na ‘yan. Nasa Senado po ‘yan kung ano po ang kanilang ipapatupad (The Executive will not interfere in whatever resolution is reached on that issue. It is up to the Senate to determine what it will implement),” she said.
Meanwhile, Castro said the arrest of Sen. Rodante Marcoleta on plunder charges will not affect the government’s obligation to enforce lawful court orders, even as the Senate begins Duterte’s impeachment trial.
The Palace has repeatedly maintained that the impeachment process is an independent constitutional mechanism and that the Executive branch will respect whatever outcome the Senate reaches. (PNA)