President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has expressed reservations about pursuing an impeachment process at this time, citing the practical challenges posed by the approaching election campaign period.
During an ambush interview on Friday, Marcos emphasized the implications of impeachment proceedings, aligning with Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile’s concerns over potential long-term consequences.
“Well, you know, JPE is one of our best legal thinkers in the country. And he is right, there is a consequence to this—it will set a precedent, and it will be very problematic,” Marcos said.
However, the President pointed out that while Congress is constitutionally obligated to process impeachment complaints, the timing is unfavorable.
Practical Challenges
“Wala ng congressman, wala ng senador dahil nangangampanya na sila. Hindi tayo makakapagbuo ng quorum,” Marcos noted.
(There will be no congressmen, no senators since they will all be campaigning. We won’t have a quorum.)
He added, “As a practical matter, the timing is very poor.”
Enrile’s Concerns
Enrile had previously warned of a “very detrimental precedent” if the logic implied during the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) National Rally for Peace were followed.
“Are we prepared to discard or sacrifice the value of rule of law for a person or a group of persons?” Enrile asked in a Facebook post.
The INC, which held rallies attended by an estimated 1.8 million individuals nationwide, declared the event as a non-political show of support for Marcos’ rejection of impeachment moves against Vice President Sara Duterte.
Marcos’ Position on Impeachment
Marcos reiterated his opposition to any impeachment efforts against Duterte, arguing that such moves would not benefit Filipinos.
“Let us leave it to the process. As a practical matter, papasok na tayo sa campaign period,” he said. (Let us leave it to the process. As a practical matter, we are heading into the campaign period.)
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin affirmed that the President’s stance against impeachment remains unchanged.