Bersamin: President’s office hands off Sara Duterte impeachment

FILE PHOTO: Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin says the Office of the President is not involved in the impeachment complaint filed against Vice President Sara Dutete before the House of Representatives. On Monday, December 2, 2024, private individuals filed the first impeachment complaint against Duterte, citing 24 violations allegedly committed by the vice president. Akbayan Party-list Rep. Percival Cendaña endorsed the 50-page impeachment document crafted by religious leaders, sectoral representatives, and families of drug war victims. Photo from Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau

MANILA, Philippines — Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said the Office of the President is not involved in the impeachment complaint filed against Vice President Sara Duterte before the House of Representatives.

Bersamin stressed that the earlier pronouncement of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. regarding impeaching Duterte is “unambiguous.”

“The impeachment complaint filed in the House of Representatives by several private citizens is clearly the complainants’ independent initiative, and its endorsement [is] the prerogative of any Member of the House of Representatives,” Bersamin said in a statement Tuesday.

“The Office of the President has nothing to do with it,” he added.

On Monday afternoon, private individuals filed the first impeachment complaint against Duterte, citing 24 violations allegedly committed by the vice president.

READ: First impeachment complaint vs VP Sara filed at House

Akbayan Party-list Rep. Percival Cendaña endorsed the 50-page impeachment document crafted by religious leaders, sectoral representatives, and families of drug war victims.

Last Nov. 29, Marcos disclosed he had told Congress not to file an impeachment complaint against Duterte.

READ: Marcos says he ordered impeachment moves vs VP Sara Duterte stopped

“Well, it was actually a private communication, but it got leaked. Yes. Because that’s really my opinion,” Marcos said in a mix of English and Filipino.

“This (impeachment) is not important. This does not make a difference to even one single Filipino life. So why waste time on it?” he asked.