Malacañang on Monday said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will not personally monitor the Senate impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, citing his full official schedule.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Marcos has several duties to attend to, including private meetings, and does not need to watch the proceedings live because he will be briefed on major developments.
“Mas marami pong dapat na trabahuhin ang ating Pangulo at hindi po siya uupo lamang para po manood ng impeachment trial,” Castro said during a Palace briefing.
Castro said the President’s position remains that those facing accusations should answer the charges against them through the proper process.
“Nagsalita na rin po ang Pangulo sa Kapihan, kung may kinakailangan pong sagutin, ay dapat lamang pong sagutin. Kung kaya naman po na malinis ang mga pangalan ay dapat lamang pong gawin,” she said.
“Mas maganda pong humarap sa nasabing trial para po siya na mismo ang sumagot ng mga akusasyon laban sa kaniya,” Castro added.
During a Kapihan forum with the media in Canada over the weekend, Marcos said it is up to Duterte and her lawyers to decide whether she would personally appear before the impeachment court.
Marcos said that if he were the accused, he would attend the proceedings, answer the charges, and defend himself.
Duterte is facing impeachment over allegations involving the misuse of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery of Department of Education officials, and grave threats against Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Castro also said Marcos would not interfere with proposals to amend impeachment rules regarding the two-thirds vote requirement for convicting an impeachable official, amid questions about the participation of senators facing legal issues.
“Hindi po makikialam ang Ehekutibo kung anuman po ang magiging resolusyon patungkol sa isyung ‘yan. Nasa Senado po ‘yan kung ano po ang kanilang ipapatupad,” Castro said.
She said the matter is for the Senate to resolve as it sits as an impeachment court.