Philippine president says impeaching the vice president, his rival, would be a waste of time

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Friday that filing impeachment complaints against the vice president, who is facing a legal storm after publicly threatening to have him killed, would be a waste of time for Congress.

It was unclear whether Marcos’ remark would stop plans by several groups to file impeachment complaints against Duterte over a number of criminal allegations, including her alleged misuse of confidential government funds and her recent public threat to have the president, his wife and the speaker of the House of Representatives killed if she herself were killed in a plot she has not detailed.

The legal troubles facing the vice president and her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, are unfolding in the backdrop of their worsening feud with Marcos. It’s the latest battle between the country’s most powerful families in a long-unwieldy democracy that has been dominated for decades by political dynasties.

But Marcos played down the political showdown.

“It’s a storm in a teacup,” he told reporters.

“This is not important. This will not make any difference to even one single Filipino life, so, why waste time on it?” he said of an impeachment. Impeachment complaints are being prepared for filing before the House, which is led by Marcos’ cousin and political ally, Martin Romualdez.

Duterte regards Romualdez as a bitter opponent. Both are seen as potential presidential candidates in 2028.

Duterte has ruled out a political reconciliation with Marcos. They were running mates in 2022 and won by landslides in a campaign of national unity but later had a falling out on several issues, including over their support for China or the Unites States.

Marcos has strengthened a defense