The impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte were not addressed during President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s meeting with House lawmakers in Malacañang, according to Representative Joel Chua, chairperson of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability.
“Ay wala po. Wala pong napagusapang impeachment. Nagpunta lang po dun kasama ‘yung ibang congressman ata party leaders, binigay lang sa Presidente yung resolusyon na ipasa ng House expressing full support to the President,” Chua clarified during an interview on Unang Balita.
He further elaborated that the gathering focused on presenting a resolution of support for the President. “Pagkatapos po nung nagsalita po ang Pangulo, nagpasalamat sa mga miyembro at in-encourage na magtrabaho lang. Yun lang po. Tapos po ay nagkaroon ng konting picture taking, nagkaroon ng dinner,” Chua added, emphasizing that the event was more of a fellowship gathering rather than a formal discussion on pressing political issues.
Chua revealed that more than 200 members of the House of Representatives were present at the meeting, which concluded with a dinner and photo session around 8 p.m.
The meeting came just a day after House members issued a manifesto reaffirming their unwavering support for Marcos “at all costs.” This expression of unity aligns with Marcos’ stance against the impeachment plans targeting Duterte.
Earlier, Marcos publicly expressed his opposition to the impeachment efforts, highlighting his desire to maintain political stability within the administration. He also acknowledged reports of a text message where he had urged lawmakers not to file such complaints against Duterte.
Duterte, who was Marcos’ running mate in the 2022 elections, remains a prominent figure in his administration. The President’s efforts to prevent an impeachment move underscore the close political alliance between the two.
The resolution of support presented during the meeting further solidifies the cooperation between the executive and legislative branches, with lawmakers reaffirming their commitment to the administration’s agenda.
The complaints against Duterte had sparked speculation about potential political rifts; however, the Malacañang meeting suggests that maintaining unity among allies remains a priority for the Marcos administration.