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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Prosecution panel focused on impeachment trial despite Marcos-Duterte negotiation rumors

Prosecution panel focused on impeachment trial despite Marcos-Duterte negotiation rumors

Published Aug 18, 2026 03:11 am

At A Glance

  • The House prosecution panel dismisses rumors of a Marcos-Duterte deal, stressing its sole mandate is to pursue truth and accountability in the Senate impeachment trial.
  • Spokesperson Robert Ace Barbers says the panel's task is to continue presenting evidence and ensuring the public understands the case, not to engage in political trade-offs.
  • Barbers doubts reports of secret negotiations, noting the prosecution's authority comes from the Constitution's accountability mechanism.
From left: Vice President Sara Duterte, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., Robert Ace Barbers (PPAB, Facebook, MANILA BULLETIN)
From left: Vice President Sara Duterte, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., Robert Ace Barbers (PPAB, Facebook, MANILA BULLETIN)


The House prosecution panel refuses to be distracted by rumors of a negotiated deal between President Marcos and his ex-political ally, Vice President Sara Duterte amid the lady official's Senate impeachment trial.
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House impeachment adviser and prosecution panel spokesperson Robert “Ace” Barbers clarified in a press conference Monday, Aug. 17 that any purported political negotiations betweenc Marcos and Duterte were outside the prosecution’s mandate.
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“Well, as far as the prosecution panel is concerned, nandito tayo sa proseso ng pagpapalabas ng katotohanan and accountability,” Barbers stressed.
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(We are here in the process of bringing out truth and accountability.)
Barbers was responding to questions about unverified reports that Duterte had privately reached out to Marcos and was prepared to resign in exchange for being allowed to pursue the presidency in the 2028 elections.
It can be recalled that Duterte announced on Feb. 18, 2026 that she intended to run for president in 2028. However, conviction in the impeachment trial could lead to her removal as Vice President, as well as perpetual disqualification from holding public office.
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The purported deal could save Duterte's Palace ambition, even as her image image continues to take a beating in the course of the impeachment trial.
For Barbers, the prosecution has no other thing in mind but to continue to lay down the evidence against the twice-impeached Duterte.
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“So kung mayroong mang usapin tungkol dyan sa mga trade-offs, yan po ay wala sa prosecution panel because ang task ay ipagpatuloy itong paglilitis, ipresenta ang mga ebidensya at siguruhin na naiintindihan ng ating mamamayan kung ano-ano itong mga ebidensyang ito,” said the former three-term Surigao del Norte congressman.
(So if there are any issues about trade-offs, those are not with the prosecution panel because the task is to continue the trial, present the evidence, and ensure that our people understand what these pieces of evidence are.)
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He noted that the prosecution’s authority came from the constitutional process of accountability rather than from any political arrangement outside the Senate impeachment court.
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“Sinusunod natin ang utos ng ating Saligang Batas na magkaroon ng isang accountability mechanism for certain higher officials of government na magkaroon ng pananagutan kung sila ay mayroong ginawang paglabag sa mga batas,” Barbers said.
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(We are following the mandate of our Constitution to have an accountability mechanism for certain higher officials of government so they can be held responsible if they commit violations of the law.)
Barbers doubts it
Pressed about the alleged Marcos-Duterte trade-off proposal, the Mindanaoan expressed doubt on the veracity of such reports.
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“Talks about secret or private meetings that we were not aware of, and I don’t think both parties that allegedly met, I don’t know if that would be a possible scenario, at least in my own personal opinion,” Barbers said.
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Marcos said only three days earlier that he had not yet decided who to support in the 2028 presidential contest. He said that choosing a successor at this stage would be premature.
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Marcos and Duterte were running mates in the 2022 polls under the "UniTeam" banner. They had a falling out two years later.
Vice President Duterte's conviction via impeachment trial is being sought over her offices' alleged misuse of P612.5 million worth of confidential funds; untruthful declarations in the filing of her statements of assets, liabilities, and net worth; unexplained wealth; and death threats to President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez.

Related Tags

impeachment Sara Duterte Robert Ace Barbers Marcos 2028 elections
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