26-2-2025 (MANILA) Malacañang has clarified President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s stance on the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte, revealing the delicate balancing act facing the country’s executive branch.
“The President finds himself in an awkward position regarding voluntarily calling for a special session, particularly with widespread speculation suggesting he orchestrated the impeachment proceedings,” explained Undersecretary Claire Castro, Palace Press Officer, during yesterday’s briefing at Malacañang.
Castro emphasized that the administration believes the more appropriate course would be for the Senate to formally request such a session, noting that “President Marcos has already stated his willingness to call for a special session if the Senate requests it.” To date, the Palace confirms no such request has been received.
The situation has highlighted significant gray areas in the Philippine Constitution regarding impeachment timelines. While the Constitution directs the Senate to proceed “forthwith” with impeachment cases, constitutional experts note ambiguity around whether this applies during legislative recess.
“The Constitution doesn’t specify a precise time element,” Castro pointed out. “It doesn’t explicitly mandate calling a special session during recess to advance impeachment proceedings.”
Dr. Maria Ela Atienza, political science professor at the University of the Philippines, explains the complexity: “The ‘forthwith’ provision has historically been interpreted with some flexibility. The Constitution gives clear impeachment powers to Congress but remains somewhat vague on procedural timelines, particularly during recess periods.”
The Makabayan bloc, a progressive coalition in the House of Representatives, has intensified pressure by publicly calling on President Marcos to convene a special session. Their appeal came after Senate President Francis Escudero clarified that the Senate lacks authority to independently call such a session.
“The Senate’s inability to self-convene during recess creates a constitutional bottleneck that only executive action can resolve,” Representative Carlos Zarate, a constitutional law expert and former legislator, told local media.
Vice President Duterte has not remained passive in this political battle. Last week, she filed a petition with the Supreme Court challenging both the validity and constitutionality of the fourth impeachment complaint—the one that successfully advanced from the House to the Senate.
