Philippines’ Marcos calls Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment debate a ‘tempest in a teacup’

MANILA: Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said on Friday (Nov 29) that any impeachment complaint against his Vice President Sara Duterte, who last weekend threatened his lifewill only tie up Congress, not help the people.

On Friday, ABS-CBN News quoted Congresswoman Francie Castro as saying that lawmakers in the lower house are set to file an impeachment complaint against Duterte for breach of public trust, bribery and other serious crimes such as embezzlement.

“Why waste time on this?” Marcos told reporters.

“None of this will improve the lives of any Filipino. As far as I’m concerned, it’s a storm in a teacup.”

Duterte has been embroiled in a bitter feud with Marcos and his cousin, House Speaker Martin Romualdez, after the collapse of the powerful alliance between their two powerful families that helped Marcos win the 2022 election by a landslide.

Lawmakers are investigating Duterte’s alleged misuse of public funds during her tenure as education secretary. Duterte, which one left her post in the Cabinet of Ministers in Junedenies guilt.

On Saturday, Duterte said she had hired an assassin to kill the president, his wife and Romualdez if she herself was killed, prompting a sharp rebuke from Marcos.

Law enforcement officials summoned Duterte for questioning over the claim on Friday, but the vice president did not show up and asked for a new schedule. Her lawyers said she had official matters that required urgent resolution.

Asked if his relationship with the vice president was irreparable, Marcos said, “Never say never.”