Sandro Marcos shows savvy, maturity as he declines to comment on VP Duterte impeachment

House Majority Leader Ilocos Norte 1st district Rep. Sandro Marcos seemingly gave the perfect answer when pressed by a reporter to comment on a sensitive topic–the upcoming impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. This, even as Rep. Marcos candidly admitted getting too affected by his emotions on the topic in the past. As the Senate impeachment trial against Duterte is about to start on July 6, the majority leader–also the presidential son–was asked on his thoughts about the constitutional process during a chance interview Wednesday, June 18. The second-term solon humbly declined, as he showed great understanding of how journalism in the age of spin works. It should be noted that the Vce President is a top critic of President Marcos. “Again, because of who I am and my relation to the President, I’m not in the best place to comment on the impeachment,” Rep. Marcos said. “Kasi kung sasabihin ko sa inyo na talagang malakas ang kaso nila, of course, sasabihin nyo yan dahil anak siya ng Pangulo. Kung sasabihin ko mahina, ay hindi, nagkukunwari lang yan dahil namumulitika. So, again, I’m not in the best position to comment on that,” he explained. (Because if I tell you their case is really strong, of course you’ll say that’s only because he’s the President’s son. If I say it’s weak, then no, you’ll just say I’m pretending because of politics.) A reporter then printed out that it was the younger Marcos who led the signatories to the impeachment complaint that triggered Duterte’s first impeachment on Feb. 5, 2025. Rep. Marcos acknowledged this and gave an honest recollection of what he went through emotionally at that time. “You’re right, I was the first person to sign last impeachment. But again, I think that was me being more of a son than a House member. You have to remember…I was senior deputy majority leader at the time. I think so…Yes, so it’s different now,” he said. “I don’t only represent the 1st dstrict of Ilocos Norte. I’m not only the son of the President, but I also represent the institution now as majority leader. So magkaiba na (So the circumstances are different),” he said, as he noted his heightened responsibilities in the current 20th Congress. “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. So of course, I guess lesson learned,” Rep. Marcos said. In an interview last year following Duterte’s first impeachment, Rep. Marcos said it “should come as no surprise” that he was the first to sign the impeachment complaint, the threats that the lady official made against his loved ones. “Now, as to why I was the first one to sign, alangan naman kung sasabihin ang tao na gusto lang huhukayin yung lolo mo at itapon yung katawan sa West Philippine Sea (WPS), sasabihin niya gusto niyang patayin ang Pangulo at ang First Lady na ang aking magulang, at gusto niyang patayin ng Speaker, eh, bat naman nagugulat ang tao na papirma ako dyan?” he said. (Now, as to why I was the first one to sign, why wouldn’t I, if the person said she wants to exhume my grandfather’s body and throw it in the WPS, she said she wants to kill the President and the First Lady who are my parents, and wants to kill the Speaker as well, then why were the people surprised that I signed there?) “You know, these are statements that can’t be taken lightly especially from someone with such a high position. Of course I’ll be the first one to sign,” he added.