President Ferdinand 鈥淏ongbong鈥� R Marcos Jr.聽 (left) and Vice President Sara Duterte (MARIANNE BERMUDEZ /GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE/INQUIRER FILES)
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Monday refuted claims anew that President Ferdinand 鈥淏ongbong鈥� R. Marcos Jr. was the cause of the delay on the progress of impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte.
In a short statement, Bersamin stressed that 鈥渢he power to initiate and act on impeachment complaints is the sole prerogative of the House of Representatives.鈥�
鈥淥ut of respect for institutions, the President will not interfere in a matter over which a co-equal branch has exclusive jurisdiction,鈥� he added.
This was in response to Makabayan bloc representatives鈥� statement saying Marcos鈥� alleged interference in the impeachment complaints 鈥渞epresents a dangerous obstruction of constitutional processes and democratic accountability.鈥�
Last November, Marcos said he had told Congress not to file an impeachment complaint against Vice President Duterte.
鈥淲ell, it was actually a private communication, but it got leaked. Yes. Because that鈥檚 really my opinion,鈥� Marcos said in English and Filipino.
鈥淭his is not important. This does not make a difference to even one single Filipino life. So why waste time on it?鈥� he added.
Bersamin, in a statement last January 16, already said that Marcos鈥� stance on the matter 鈥渞emains unchanged鈥� despite warnings from the chief presidential legal counsel that Filipinos could face a 鈥渧ery detrimental precedent鈥� if the logic implied in a recent Iglesia ni Cristo peace rally is followed.
The rally was organized to express support for Marcos鈥� rejection of impeachment efforts against Duterte.