MANILA — Malacañang maintained a hands-off stance on the impending impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte, stating that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will not interfere and will allow Congress to handle the matter in accordance with the Constitution.
Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro issued the statement on January 14, 2026, amid expectations that opposition lawmakers will file a fresh impeachment case against Duterte as soon as the one-year constitutional ban expires on February 6, 2026.
Castro emphasized:
“The President respects the constitutional process. If a complaint is filed and transmitted to the House, and eventually to the Senate, we will let the process run its course. There should be no exceptions to accountability.”
The Palace reiterated that Marcos believes any official — regardless of position — should be held accountable if evidence warrants it, drawing parallels to the ongoing investigation into anomalous flood control projects.
Current Impeachment Landscape
- The one-year ban on refiling impeachment complaints against Sara Duterte ends on February 6, 2026, following the Supreme Court’s ruling that voided last year’s complaint for being unconstitutional.
- Opposition figures, including members of the Makabayan bloc and Rep. Edgar Erice, have signaled plans to file a new complaint shortly after the ban lifts.
- No formal articles have been approved by the House yet, but discussions are reportedly ongoing.
- Any complaint requires endorsement by at least one-third of House members to be transmitted to the Senate for trial.
This comes amid heightened political tensions, with earlier speculation (later downplayed) about a possible impeachment bid against Marcos himself over alleged budget irregularities.
Here are some visuals capturing the political atmosphere — Senate sessions, House plenary debates, and key figures involved in the impeachment discussions:
The Palace remains firm on non-interference while stressing accountability. The coming weeks leading to February 6 will be critical as opposition groups finalize their strategy.