Palace: ‘Awkward’ for Marcos to call for session on Duterte impeachment
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte
MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Tuesday said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. believes it is more appropriate to wait for the Senate to request a special session on the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte before calling one himself.
This was Palace Press Officer and Undersecretary Claire Castro’s answer when asked if Marcos could compel the conduct of a special Senate session even without a request from the chamber.
“The way we see it, it would be an awkward position on the part of the President to voluntarily call for a special session, considering that there is this ongoing [allegation] that the President is behind the impeachment proceeding,” Castro told reporters.
“So it is better for the Senate to request, considering even the President made this pronouncement that if the Senate would ask him to call for a special session he would do so,” she added.
READ: Escudero: Senate needs special session to start VP Duterte trial
Article continues after this advertisementAsked if it was legal for the President to call for a special Senate session that would only be limited to the impeachment trial, Castro responded that the President may call for a special session anytime under the Constitution.
“It is not limited to the urgency of a bill or legislation, but we believe it also includes the impeachment trial because it’s anytime, without any condition,” she explained.
The House of Representatives impeached Duterte last February 5.
On February 18, she filed a petition asking the Supreme Court to stop the impeachment proceedings.
READ: VP Sara Duterte files petition at SC to stop impeachment moves against her
