Virgilio Lorenzo Jr

Marcos Jr. risks being seen as weak if VP Sara Duterte beats impeachment: analyst

Article (news)

David Dizon

ABS-CBN News

<p>A political analyst believes President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. risks being viewed as a weak leader or a lame duck president if Vice President Sara Duterte beats an impeachment attempt against her.</p><p>Speaking to TeleRadyo Serbisyo, political analyst Ronald Llamas said Marcos’ instructions for his allies in Congress not to file an impeachment complaint against Duterte could be taken at face value.</p><p>“Pwede nating tingnan na &#x27;yung isang kamay niya ayaw niya &#x27;yung impeachment…pwede rin na habang dumidistansya siya ay &#x27;yung iba niyang mga kasama, ang tinging may blessing naman sila para ituloy,” he said.</p><p>Talk of a possible impeachment complaint vs Duterte has gained prominence after the Vice President said she had asked someone to kill Marcos, First Lady Liza Marcos and Speaker Martin Romualdez if she is assassinated.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/11/25/marcos-on-vp-sara-duterte-s-kill-threat-yan-ay-aking-papalagan-1337">Marcos on VP Sara Duterte’s kill threat: ‘Yang ganyang kriminal na pagtatangka ay di dapat pinapalampas’</a></div><p>She later said her remarks are not an active threat unless someone carries out the plan to kill her. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/11/26/sara-duterte-faces-subpoena-over-kill-plot-vs-marcos-vp-says-threat-a-plan-without-flesh-1230">Sara Duterte gets subpoena over kill plot vs Marcos; VP says threat a ‘plan without flesh’</a></div><div><strong></strong></div><p>Party-list lawmaker France Castro earlier confirmed the leftist group Bayan is already drafting an impeachment complaint against Duterte, accusing her of bribery, betrayal of public trust and other high crimes.</p><p>Duterte has denied misusing her confidential funds and accused the First Lady of corruption. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/11/29/impeach-move-vs-vp-sara-duterte-set-this-december-lawmaker-0913">Impeach move vs VP Sara Duterte set this December</a></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/11/23/vp-duterte-accuses-liza-marcos-as-power-behind-deped-cash-filled-envelopes-1411">VP Duterte accuses Liza Marcos as power behind DepEd cash-filled envelopes</a></div><p>In the interview, Llamas said he had heard talk that as many as 2 impeachment complaints could be filed against Duterte this December.</p><p>He said there is ample time to file an impeachment complaint this month, noting that ex-Chief Justice Renato Corona was also impeached in December.</p><p>Llamas said the numbers for Corona’s ouster grew from 9 at the start of the impeachment trial in the Senate to 20 by the time he was removed. </p><p>“Depende ‘yan sa magiging proseso. Makikita ba nila ‘yung articles of impeachment na tingin nila ay pabor para sa kanila as well as sa bansa? What&#x27;s in it for them?  ‘Yung mga senador, 23 republics ‘yan...May ibat-ibang mga batayan ‘yan,” he said. </p><p>“Posibleng walang numero sa Senado pero pwedeng sa proseso ng trial pwedeng makuha ‘yung numero.”</p><p>He also highlighted the risks brought about by an impeachment trial, including a possible blow to the leadership of President Marcos Jr. </p><p>“Kung magsu-survive &#x27;yung nag-threaten sa Presidente ng assassination, sa kanyang asawa at sa kanyang pinsan, at &#x27;yung tatay ay nagko-call na pabagsakin siya sa isang mutiny, kung magsu-survive &#x27;yung mga nagti-threaten sa kanya, baka magmukha siyang weak leader at baka maging lame duck siya kahit 3 years bago matapos ang kanyang term,” he said. </p><p>“Kung sakaling mag-survive si Sara, magkakaroon siya momentum dahil &#x27;yung ibang politiko na umalis sa kanila, baka magsimulang bumalik dahil ang tingin nila, umatras &#x27;yung presidente at lumakas ang VP dahil nag-survive...&#x27;Yung mga Duterte gaganti ito. There will be hell to pay.” </p>

<p>A political analyst believes President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. risks being viewed as a weak leader or a lame duck president if Vice President Sara Duterte beats an impeachment attempt against her.</p>

A political analyst believes President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. risks being viewed as a weak leader or a lame duck president if Vice President Sara Duterte beats an impeachment attempt against her.