Imee upset over impeachment vs. Sara, destabilization vs. Marcos

Senator Imee Marcos on Thursday said she is opposed to the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte and the alleged destabilization moves against her brother, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

"Sinabi ko nga eh ayoko talaga ng gulo, ng impeachment, ng ICC. Sa kabila 'yung ginagawa sa kapatid ko, ayoko rin ng destabilization, revgov (revolutionary government). Ayoko ng gulo," Marcos said in an interview with GMA's One Mindanao.

Marcos said she was "ballistic" and was "really, really angry" about the impeachment of Duterte.

"Nagulat lang ako October 2023 pinag-uusapan na nila yan eh. Si Speaker talaga pambihira," Marcos said apparently referring to hr cousin, Speaker Martin Romualdez.

"Pagkatapos last night namin tyaka darating. Anong pakay non? Eh alam naman nila hindi na mahahabol yan. Ibig sabihin manggugulo lang. Kasi hindi na, wala na, tapos na. Eh bakit ngayon lang anong ibig sabihin nun?"  she went on.

The senator said the move to send it to the Senate on the last day of session appears to show that the House of Representatives is "not serious" about the impeachment.

"Matagal pa 'yan eh. Wala ng time. Kaya parang hindi sila seryoso. Ano ba ang nais nilang ipakita 'yan ang tanong ko. Dahil panggulo lang yan eh," she quipped.

"Babalik naman kami sa June 2 at paguusapan kung anong dapat d'yan pero ako, in principle, tutol ako sa gulong ganyan," she said.

Marcos further argued that the impeachment won't solve the pressing problems in the country, particularly on the prices of rice and food, unemployment, and the needs of the farmers, seniors, and persons with disability.

"Kung destabilization man yan kay Bongbong, kung impeachment 'yan kay VP Inday at ICC kay PRRD (former President Rodrigo Duterte), ayoko ng ganyang klaseng gulo na nanghihimasok ang mga dayuhan dito sa Pilipinas," she said.

"Ang gusto ko tutukan ang problema sa bansa. Di naman yan ang solusyon eh...Nakakahiya na tayo. Tutukan natin ang mga problema ng sambayanan at yan ang tungkulin na sinumpaan natin," she added.

The House of Representatives on Wednesday impeached Duterte with 215 congressmen, endorsing the verified impeachment complaint.

The seven Articles of Impeachment against the Vice President include:

-Conspiracy to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. First Lady Liza Marcos, and Speaker Martin Romualdez
-Malversation of P612.5 Million in confidential funds with questionable liquidation documents 
-Bribery and corruption in the Department of Education (DepEd) during Duterte’s tenure as Education chief by handing out cash to DepEd personnel namely: former DepEd Undersecretary Gloria Jumamil-Mercado (Procurement Head), Bids and Awards Committee Member Resty Osias, DepEd Chief Accountant Rhunna Catalan and Special Disbursing Officer Edward Fajarda
-Unexplained wealth and failure to disclose assets in the Vice President’s Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth where her wealth increased by four times from 2007 from 2017, among other bank accounts
-Involvement in extrajudicial killings in Davao city  
-Destabilization, insurrection, and public disorder efforts which include: boycotting the State of the Nation Address (SONA) while declaring herself “designated survivor”, leading rallies calling for President Marcos Jr.’s resignation, obstructing congressional investigations by ordering subordinates not to comply with subpoenas, threatening bodily harm against the President, First Lady, and Speaker Romualdez, among others and
-The totality of the Vice President’s conduct as the second highest official of the land.

The Senate on Wednesday adjourned sessions without mentioning anything about the impeachment of Duterte.

Senate Secretary Renato Bantug Jr. said there was a need for "complete staff work" to go over the articles—something that was not finished before the Senate adjourned.

Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero said the impeachment trial will not commence during the congressional break.

Congress has adjourned sessions to give way for the Eleksyon 2025 campaign.

They will resume sessions on June 2.