Inihayag ni House Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos nitong Lunes na hindi siya lalahok sa mga deliberasyon kaugnay ng impeachment complaints laban sa kanyang ama, si Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr., upang “mapanatili ang integridad ng House of Representatives.”
“In view of the impeachment complaints filed against President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., who is my father, I have decided to formally recuse myself from all discussions, deliberations, and proceedings of the House Committee on Rules insofar as these complaints are concerned,” ani Marcos sa isang kalatas.
“This decision is guided not by legal compulsion, but by a higher obligation—to preserve the integrity of the House of Representatives, to protect the credibility of its processes, and to uphold the public’s trust in our constitutional system,” dagdag pa niya.
Dalawang impeachment complaints na ang inihain laban sa Pangulo: isa mula kay Atty. Andre de Jesus na inendorso ng Pusong Pinoy party-list, na nagsasabing nagkaroon ng “betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution” dahil sa umano’y pagsuko kay dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa ICC, paggamit ng ipinagbabawal na gamot, at pagpasa ng mga unconstitutional na probisyon sa pambansang badyet; at isa mula sa Koalisyong Makabayan na inendorso ng Makabayan bloc, na nagsasabing nagkaroon ng “betrayal of public trust” dahil sa BBM Parametric Formula na nagresulta sa mga “ghost,” substandard, at overpriced flood projects.
“While I am fully aware that the Rules of the House do not require my inhibition, and while I remain confident in the independence and professionalism of my colleagues, I recognize that leadership sometimes calls for restraint rather than participation. In moments that test institutions, perception matters as much as procedure,” wika ng kinatawan ng Ilocos Norte.
“My recusal ensures that no question may be raised about the fairness, objectivity, or legitimacy of the process, and that the focus remains where it properly belongs—on the Constitution, the facts, and the rule of law,” dagdag pa niya.
Binigyang-diin ni Marcos na ang kanyang pag-atras ay hindi pag-iwas sa tungkulin kundi pagpapatibay ng kanyang mandato bilang mambabatas:
“I take this step not as a retreat from responsibility, but as an affirmation of it. Public office is a trust, and that trust is strengthened when those who hold power are willing to step aside to protect the institution they serve.” (RRN)