Manila: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will not intervene in the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte, emphasizing the importance of respecting institutional processes and the separation of powers, Malacanang said on Friday. The President already expressed his personal reservation against Duterte's impeachment but also acknowledged that it is not within the executive mandate, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro stressed during a briefing.

According to Philippines News Agency, Castro clarified that the impeachment of the Vice President is now in the hands of the legislative branch, and that President Marcos respects the roles of the prosecutors in the House of Representatives and the senators who will act as judges. Castro emphasized that the President's past remarks against impeachment should not be misinterpreted as an aversion to accountability, but a personal preference. However, she noted that this does not mean that the President rejects constitutional processes.

In Castro's words, 'Sa pagkakataon po ng impeachment trial, alam po natin, impeachment trial is not the business of the executive, hindi po makiki-alam ang Pangulo pagdating diyan, pero sinabi po niya, na dapat umandar ang proseso, respeto at due process (In the case of the impeachment trial, we know that impeachment trial is not the business of the executive, the President will not interfere when it comes to that, but he said that the process, respect and due process must work).' She further added that when it comes to the impeachment trial, the law must be followed, and it will be the people who will look and judge those involved in the process.

Castro concluded by stating that the impeachment prosecutors and the senator-judges must now do their job in accordance with the law, underscoring the separation of powers and the due process that must be upheld in such proceedings.