MANILA, Philippines — House Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Sandro Marcos said he let his emotions get the better of him when he supported the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte in 2025 but that it was different now.
"I was the first person to sign last impeachment. But, again, I think that was me being more of a son than a member of the House of Representatives," Marcos said in a media interview on Wednesday.
He said it was different now. "I don't only represent the first district of Ilocos Norte, I'm not only the son of the president but I also represent the institution now as majority leader,"he said.
"And, to tell you the truth, I did let my emotions get the better of me. That was the first time I experienced something like that.... lesson learned,"Marcos said.
In Feb. 2025, the lawmaker mentioned Duterte's kill remark against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in explaining why he signed the fourth impeachment complaint which the House sent to the Senate.
The Supreme Court later declared unconstitutional the impeachment articles sent in 2025 by the House to the Senate.
Under the 1987 Constitution, only the House can initiate impeachment cases and only the Senate can conduct an impeachment trial.
The House, voting 257-25 with nine abstentions, impeached Duterte on May 11, 2026 over alleged misuse of confidential funds, unexplained wealth allegedly amassed, alleged bribery, and the kill remark against the president. It then sent the impeachment articles to the Senate for trial.
Duterte denied the allegations in the two impeachment complaints filed in 2026 and heard by the House Committee on Justice. This committee on Apr. 29, 2026 found probable cause to impeach her so it sent the impeachment articles to the House plenary for action.
