President Marcos said any impeachment complaint that may be filed against Vice President Sara Duterte should be treated in the same manner as the ongoing investigations into alleged flood control anomalies.

Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro said the President made the remark himself when asked about reports of a possible impeachment move against the Vice President next month.

In her press briefing on Monday, Jan. 12, Castro said Marcos’ statement, made after she asked him about the issue personally, means accountability should apply to everyone, without exemptions.

“Kung ano po ang pagtrato sa pag-iimbestiga sa mga anomalyang flood control projects, ganoon din po ang gawing pagtrato sa paggagawa or sa pag-iimbestiga patungkol dito sa impeachment complaint laban kay VP Sara (Whatever approach is taken in investigating the anomalous flood control projects should also be applied to investigating an impeachment complaint against the Vice President),” Castro said, recalling the President’s remark.

“Ibig sabihin, managot ang dapat managot (Meaning, those who should be held accountable must be held accountable),” she added.

The Palace Press Officer stressed that if there are issues and evidence pointing to wrongdoing, these should be examined thoroughly, regardless of who is involved.

Asked whether Marcos would support or oppose a renewed impeachment effort, Castro said the President did not issue any explicit directive to block such a move.

Instead, she said Marcos would respect the constitutional process if an impeachment complaint is filed and supported by evidence.

“Kung ang prosesong iyan ay dapat masampa ayon sa mga ebidensiya, igagalang po ng Pangulo ang proseso (If the process calls for filing based on the evidence, the President will respect the process),” she said.

Castro acknowledged that Marcos had previously expressed concern that impeachment would not benefit ordinary Filipinos, but said circumstances have since changed.

She said the scope of the issues being raised now appears broader than before, warranting closer scrutiny.

“Hindi pa siguro nakikita kung gaano kalawak ang maaaring naging isyu noon (Perhaps the full extent of the issues was not yet seen before),” she said.