Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said there have been no discussions with President Marcos about the looming impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Castro said this amid debates on when the Senate should proceed with the impeachment trial.

In an interview over Super Radyo DZBB on Sunday, March 2, the Palace official said they were only told that Marcos’ stand on Duterte’s impeachment remains unchanged.

“Ilang beses po kaming nagkita ni Pangulo, pero hindi po talaga niya nababanggit yung impeachment sa amin (I’ve met the president numerous times but the impeachment hasn’t been brought up to us),” she said.

“So, wala pong pagbabago (there are no changes),” she added.

Despite their now-sour relationship, President Marcos has been vocal about his opposition to Vice President Duterte’s ouster, saying she is not important in the grand scheme of things.

However, Marcos said he is open to calling for a special session to tackle Duterte’s impeachment should the Senate ask for it.

Vice President Duterte has publicly announced that she has contracted someone to kill President Marcos, First Lady Liza Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez should an assassination attempt against her succeed.

Heed CBCP's call

The Senate should heed the call of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) for an “immediate and impartial” handling of the impeachment case against Vice President Duterte.

Thus, said Manila 3rd district Rep. Joel Chua, one of the 11 House prosecutors looking to gain a conviction of Duterte at the Senate impeachment court.

“Tama po (sila). Dahil ang isyu dito is accountability. Ang pinag-uusapan po dito ay hindi po naming pare-parehas pera, pera po ng taong-bayan. Kaya ito po talaga ay dapat binibigyan po ng prayoridad ng ating mga mambabatas,” Chua said. (They are correct. Because the issue here is accountability. The subject here is not our money but the people's money. That's why this should be prioritized by our lawmakers.)

“In fact, kung titingnan po natin, no, sa ating Saligang Batas, kaya nga ginamit ‘yung mga salitang 'forthwith', ‘di ba…’yung paano ii-interpret itong forthwith, ibig sabihin agad- agad,” he said. (In fact, if we look at the Constitution, that's why the word 'forthwith' was used...how do we interpret forthwith, it means immediately.)

Earlier, Caritas Philippines, the social action arm of CBCP, warned against delays in the impeachment process.

“Once an impeachment complaint is filed, government institutions must act swiftly and decisively. Delays and hesitations in the process only weaken our democratic institutions and erode public trust in governance,” Caritas Philippines, led by Bishop Jose Colin Bagafaro, said in a statement.

House members who signed Duterte's impeachment have repeatedly pointed out that according to the Charter, the impeachment trial shall begin forthwith.

Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero recently said that Duterte's impeachment trial would begin on July 30, or in the next 20th Congress or five months after the House submitted its impeachment complaint against the Vice President to the Senate. (With a report from Ellson Quismorio)