Philippine Marcos calls debate on impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte a ‘storm in a teacup’

MANILA: Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Friday (Nov 29) that any impeachment charges against his estranged Vice President Sara Duterte, who this weekend made threats against his lifewould only bind Congress and not help the people.

Congresswoman France Castro was quoted by ABS-CBN News as saying on Friday that lawmakers in the lower house will file an impeachment complaint against Duterte for breach of public trust, bribery and other serious crimes such as plunder.

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

“None of this will help improve the life of one 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 of Representatives Speaker Martin Romualdez, since the collapse of a formidable alliance between their two powerful families that helped Marcos win the 2022 elections by a huge margin.

Lawmakers are investigating Duterte’s alleged misuse of public funds during her tenure as Education Secretary. Duterte, who resigned from her cabinet post in Junehas denied wrongdoing.

On Saturday, Duterte said she had hired a hitman to kill the president, his wife and Romualdez in case she herself was killed, prompting a strong rebuke from Marcos.

Law enforcement officials had summoned Duterte for questioning on Friday about the statement, but the vice president did not show up and asked for a new schedule. Her lawyers said she had office matters that required her urgent attention.

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