Marcos says he’s willing to reconcile with Dutertes

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos said on Monday that the impeachment trial of his former running mate, Vice President Sara Duterte, is now in the hands of the Senate and the process must be allowed to take its course.

“The impeachment is now with the Senate. Let’s leave it to them, there is a process for that.” Marcos said in a podcast when asked by broadcaster Anthony Taberna if he could categorically say that he is against Duterte’s impeachment.

“As far as I’m concerned, [the] election is over, let’s go back to work,” the President told Taberna.

READ: Marcos on Alyansa bets: We hoped for more but we live to fight again

But when asked if he still wants to come to terms with the Dutertes, the President replied with an emphatic “Yes.”

“I don’t want trouble. I want everyone to get along, that would be better. I already have lots of enemies. I don’t need enemies, I need friends,” Marcos said.

“I don’t know, but as much as possible, I’m after stability, peace, so we can be able to do our work. That’s why I’m always open to that ... to any approach..., let’s help each other. We may not agree on policies. But do your job and do not mess around anymore,” he added.

Asked for comment, the staff of the Office of the Vice President told the Inquirer that the request for a reaction had been forwarded to Duterte.

“We’ll relay here if there’s any available statement coming from the Vice President,” they said.

The political alliance between the former running mates in the 2022 presidential and vice presidential elections started crumbling after Congress stripped Duterte’s office of confidential funds in the 2024 national budget.

The move resulted in Duterte’s father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, verbally attacking Marcos. The split, however, became final after the Vice President resigned from the Cabinet as education secretary in June 2024.

Moving on

Earlier in the day, Malacañang press officer Claire Castro said it was time to move forward from the issues surrounding the just-concluded midterm elections.

This was after she was asked about the reaction of Marcos to Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas campaign manager Toby Tiangco’s comment that Duterte’s impending impeachment trial affected the votes garnered in Mindanao by some members of the coalition’s senatorial slate.

Tiangco was apparently blaming those behind the impeachment complaint, saying it prompted several voters to choose candidates who were against impeaching the Vice President.

The President has yet to issue a comment on Tiangco’s remarks, Castro said in the press briefing.

“We have yet to receive any reaction from the President himself. The only information given to us was that we should leave behind the issues that arose during the campaign period and for everyone to simply continue with their respective duties for the benefit of the people,” she stressed.

Castro, meanwhile, commented on Duterte’s remarks that she wants a bloodbath for her impeachment trial.

“The response of our Vice President was somewhat violent, but we hope that it is just a figure of speech and should not be taken literally,” Castro said.

“If that’s what she really wants and there will surely be debates once a trial takes place, then let’s just allow the process to take its course,” she added.

Duterte earlier said that she is looking forward to her impeachment trial because she “wants a bloodbath,’’ noting that her legal team is in “full throttle” in their preparations.

Asked about the Palace’s point of view on whose blood should be spilled, Castro said the President will not interfere in the matter.

She also refused to comment on the statement made by incoming ML party list Rep. Leila de Lima that the Vice President’s statement was a “toxic rhetoric.”

De Lima, who was tapped to join the House prosecution team along with Akbayan party list Rep. Chel Diokno, said they were “very confident” they have an airtight impeachment case against Duterte.

“I will not say yes to be part of the prosecution panel if I think that the case is not strong in the first place,” she told reporters on Monday after being proclaimed by the National Board of Canvassers in Manila. “I have been monitoring the House hearings, and I saw that the articles of impeachment as transmitted to the Senate have a strong basis.”

As for Duterte’s remark that she wanted the impeachment trial to proceed because she wanted a “bloodbath,” De Lima said the Vice President wanted “to court sympathy” from Filipinos.

“The constitutional process of impeachment is sacred. It has no place for chaos, drama or theatrics. This is a serious matter where due process and the rule of law shall be followed.” —With a report from Dexter Cabalza

(2025/05/20-05:50)