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Davao City 1st District Rep.  Paolo "Pulong" Z. Duterte  attends the opening session of the 20th Congress at the House of Representatives in Quezon City on July 28, 2025.  Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

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20th CONGRESS- OPENING SESSION

Katrina Domingo

RG Cruz

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176888692358420250728-20th-congress-paolo-duterte-JC0246.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Davao City 1st District Rep.  Paolo &quot;Pulong&quot; Z. Duterte  attends the opening session of the 20th Congress at the House of Representatives in Quezon City on July 28, 2025.  Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/FileDavao City 1st District Rep.  Paolo &quot;Pulong&quot; Z. Duterte  attends the opening session of the 20th Congress at the House of Representatives in Quezon City on July 28, 2025.  Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Davao City 1st District Rep.  Paolo &quot;Pulong&quot; Z. Duterte  attends the opening session of the 20th Congress at the House of Representatives in Quezon City on July 28, 2025.  <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File</em><strong></strong></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Malacañang on Tuesday belied Davao Rep. Paolo Duterte’s insinuation that the impeachment case filed against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. could be staged.</p><p>Duterte earlier said that Andrei De Jesus — the lawyer who prepared the ouster document against the Chief Executive — is the same person who supposedly represented First Lady Liza Marcos in a disbarment case against former Biliran Representative Glenn Chong.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/19/marcos-impeachment-complaint-1004">READ: First impeachment complaint filed against Marcos</a></div><p>“Ang Pangulo at ang administrasyon na ito ay hindi eksperto sa paggawa ng intriga at eksperto sa pag gawa ng ebidensya,” Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro told Palace reporters.</p><p>“Ang First Lady ay hindi nagsasampa ng disbarment case… kung nagsampa siya ng disbarment case, ito ay of his own volition. Hindi niya nirerepresent ang Unang Ginang,” Castro said referring to De Jesus.</p><p>“Walang katotohanan… So sana po matapos na ang pagiging source of fake news ng mga kaalyado nila,” she said.</p><p>The Palace also responded to Duterte’s allegation that the President’s camp deliberately filed a “weak” impeachment case against Marcos Jr. to skirt the Supreme Court’s ban on having multiple impeachment cases filed against an official in a single year.</p><p>“Hindi maganda sa imahe ng Pangulo na siya ay masampahan ng impeachment complaint,” Castro noted.</p><p>“Hindi din ito maganda sa pananaw ng mga ekonomista… Hindi ito bentahe, kahit sino pa ang nagsampa niyan,” she said.</p><p>Meantime, Castro said she was not privy if Marcos Jr. spoke to his son — House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos — about his impeachment case that is expected to be tackled in the chambers whose agenda the younger Marcos controls.</p><p>“Hindi po nabanggit kung sila ay nakapag usap na,” the Communications official said.</p><p>“Lagi namang utos ng pangulo sa kaniyang anak, gawin lang ang kaniyang trabaho… Kung ano ang mandato ni Cong. Sandro, gampanan niya ito kahit ama niya ang malalagay dito sa impeachment complaint,” she said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/20/first-impeachment-case-vs-marcos-dead-on-arrival-in-house-says-lawmaker-1124">READ: First impeachment complaint vs Marcos &#x27;dead on arrival&#x27; in House, says lawmaker</a></div><p>The first impeachment case against Marcos Jr. was filed earlier this week over the President’s alleged graft and corruption, culpable violation of the Constitution, and betrayal of public trust.</p><p>Puson Pinoy Party-list Rep. Jernie Jett Nisay endorsed the complaint.</p><p>The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) earlier recommended the filing charges against Nisay and 7 other lawmakers for conflict of interest after they won government contracts despite being sitting members of the House of Representatives.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>‘DRAMA’ </strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Meanwhile, Sen. Imee Marcos said the impeachment complaint filed against the President, her estranged brother, was nothing but &quot;drama.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Tinatanong nyo ako. Isa na naman drama series na mukhang tatagal ng isang taon. Kilala naman natin sino nag-file at anong background. Kaya, yun nga, baka drama series lang to para sa isang taon.&quot;  Sen. Marcos said.</p><p>She said the complaint could be meant to preempt other complaints. The 1987 Constitution imposes a one complaint a year limit for each official.</p><p>Asked about its prospects, Marcos said, “Hindi ko nabasang maigi eh. Kasi natatawa ako sa itsura. Wala. Masyadong obvious na drama series. Marami tayong napanood na na-pelikulang ganun eh.” </p><p>Marcos was also asked about her brother&#x27;s alleged drug use, which was cited as a ground in the complaint. Marcos merely said, &quot;Bumenta na yun sa takilya.&quot;</p><p>Asked if the drug use which she alleged should be a ground for removing her brother from office, the senator said, &quot;Hindi ko po alam. Hindi ko nabasang maigi. Tapos may impeachment complaint din kay VP ulit, no? February 6 ang due date.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Kung lulusot yan, senator judge kami pareho ni Senator Marcoleta. Pero hindi na ako makokomento tungkol sa ikalawang impeachment complaint na inaasahan tutol kay VP Sara. Pero sa palagay ko, alam na ng Kongreso ang nangyari noong nakaraang eleksyon,&quot; Marcos said.</p><p>Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, who was also present during the press conference, was neither asked about the matter nor did he comment on his own.</p><p>On Monday, Senate President Vicente Sotto III also told the media of the impropriety for senators to talk about the impeachment as they could end up being judges.</p><div><br style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"/></div><div><iframe width="729" height="410" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ocu0WVJK2OA" title="Impeachment complaint filed vs Bongbong Marcos | DZMM TeleRadyo" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>Malacañang belied Davao Rep. Paolo Duterte’s insinualtion that the impeachment case filed against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. may be staged.</p>

Malacañang belied Davao Rep. Paolo Duterte’s insinualtion that the impeachment case filed against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. may be staged.

Palace belies Paolo Duterte claim on 'staged impeachment' vs Marcos Jr.

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Palace belies Paolo Duterte claim on 'staged impeachment' vs Marcos Jr.

Katrina Domingo,

RG Cruz,

ABS-CBN News

Published January 20, 2026 01:30 PM PHT

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Updated January 20, 2026 03:07 PM PHT

Read More:

Malacanang

impeachment case

bongbong marcos

paolo duterte

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