PRESIDENT FERDINAND R. MARCOS JR.: Good afternoon. Well, the reason I called this press conference is that, first of all, I remember that over the Christmas holidays I promised you that I will be more accessible to the press, and I am now fulfilling that promise.

And because… To tell you the truth, I’ve been a little bit dissatisfied with the ambush interview. Kasi some of the things that we talked about are not simple na isang sound bite lang kuha na. Hindi puwede ‘yun. So, and…

So, I thought that we should have a proper press conference where you can ask questions. Take your time asking the question. Hindi tayo nagmamadali. And to continue that, I think I’ve asked Cesar to arrange that we do this at least once a month unless there is something very, very important like there is today.

Now, I know I have been watching – of course, I’ve been watching the coverage on the impeachment proceedings in the different – both from the traditional media and social media, and maliwanag naman na marami kayong itatanong. Kaya’t sabi ko hindi na ma – ‘yung mga sagot ko hindi makukuha sa isang sentence lang at kailangan siguro gawin na natin ‘to. And so, anyway, so let’s start a subject on the impeachment of Vice President Sara by the House of Representatives.

Now, I think it is useful siguro para maunawaan talaga natin ang mga pangyayari at bilang siguro parang paliwanag na rin doon sa mga tanong na nakikita ko sa mga commentator. Number one, kung maalala ninyo nagsimula lahat ito noong I made the pronouncement sinabi ko na ayaw ko ‘yung – sana huwag na tayong mag-impeachment dahil marami tayong – madaming ibang trabaho at hindi – actually it’s also not practical.

Noong panahon na ‘yun, noong una kong sinabi ‘yun, wala pang nagfa-file ng impeachment. Kaya’t sana I was hoping na makumbinsi ko lahat ng kung sinuman huwag na muna nating gawin ito. Kung talagang ano – kung talagang mayroon kayong paniniwala na kailangang gawin ito, huwag naman siguro muna ngayon at marami pa tayong gagawin.

Kaya’t kung titingnan naman ninyo ‘yung mga kaalyado ko sa House of Representatives, wala sa kanila ang nag-file. Sumunod naman sila sa hiniling ko sa kanila na huwag silang mag-file ng impeachment dahil hindi magandang timing at saka marami pang problema.

Ngunit may ibang grupo, of course, the Makabayan group out of the House of Representatives, Senator Leila De Lima, the religious group nag-file nung tatlo.

And if you remember noong nag-statement si JPE na sinasabi niya hindi puwedeng pigilin ‘yan dahil may grupo na ayaw – I think he was referring to Iglesia ni Cristo. Sinasabi niya… Sinabi niya hindi naman natin puwedeng ipigil dahil may grupo o may tao na ayaw ‘yan.

At sinabi ko sa inyo noong tinatanong niyo sa akin, sabi ko I agree with him, totoo. And if you remember  my words were this, “Once the impeachment complaints are filed, they have no choice. The House has no choice, the Senate has no choice, kailangan nilang iproseso ang impeachment complaint.” And that’s exactly what has happened.

Once the impeachment complaints were filed, the House and the Senate, they have no choice. Nakatali na ang kamay nila. They have to do this and they have to do it in recognition of again the complaints that have been filed. So, iyon ang nangyari ngayon.

And that’s why we have come to this point where the House has transmitted already the impeachment complaint to the Senate. We have heard some of the statements made by the Senate President as to how he is planning to handle it. So, we will have to see because it is many… As you’ve heard before – that we heard many, many times during the Corona trial, these impeachment trials are sui generis, and therefore, we have to be very clear how the rules are and how it will be conducted.

Iyon ang naaalala ko because I was also in the House and I was in the Senate during the Corona trial. Kaya’t parang mayroon akong – I have some understanding doon sa mga procedures.

But anyway, that’s the way I see it. That’s the way that happened. And now I’ll open the floor to any questions of yours.

Q: Good afternoon, Mr. President.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Good afternoon.

Q: While it is true na constitutional duty ng House na to act on the impeachment complaint, mayroon ho silang choice kung i-endorse nila o hindi. Diretsuhin ko na po ‘yung tanong: Did you have a hand in this impeachment?

PRESIDENT MARCOS: No. The executive cannot have a hand in the impeachment. Walang role ang executive sa impeachment. Of course, did we discuss it with the Speaker, did we discuss it with the other congressmen? Of course.

And that tinatanong, anong plano ninyo? Ano ba talagang gusto ninyong gawin? And the – nandito na ito, hindi na namin maiwasan.

Q: But the convention ought taking, Mr. President, is that nothing comes to pass in the House without the President or without Malacañang’s blessing.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Well, you give me too much credit.

But again, what the House has done is clearly within – is clearly the mandate that they have been – the constitutional mandate that they have to proceed with the impeachment complaints.

So, that’s why I don’t – I think they are just following the procedure and na ang puno’t dulo nito ay na-transmit nila ang impeachment complaint sa upper House.

Q: One last point from my end, Mr. President, kapansin-pansin na unang pumirpa sa endorsement ang anak ninyo. Did he seek your advice on this and what did you tell him?

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Of course, he did. And I said – it’s very simple what I told him. And he said, you know the – “Mukhang magpipirmahan na. What’s your opinion? What I should do?”

And I told him, I said: “The process has begun.”

It has – parang batas ‘yan. When you’re in the legislature, when you file a bill, okay, House Bill No. 123 et cetera, et cetera. ‘Pag file mo niyan, that bill takes a life of its own. Kahit anong gawin ng congressman na nag-file o senador na nag-file, kahit ayaw niya ‘yung mga changes na gagawin doon sa kanyang bill, wala na siyang magagawa because the bill is going through the process as it should. And part of that process will be amendments, et cetera, additions, all that.

The impeachment complaint is exactly the same. Once it has been filed, there is a procedure that needs to be followed already.

So, sabi ko, “nandiyan na tayo,” sabi ko kay Cong. Sandro, sabi ko sa kanya, “The process has already begun. So, it’s your duty now to support that process. So, do your duty.” That’s what I told him, “Do your duty. You have to support the process. You are constitutionally mandated to carry out that process. And you’re a congressman, so do your duty.” That’s what I told him. I didn’t know he’ll be the first to sign though.

Q: Sir, magandang hapon po. Sir, you were very vocal before na ayaw ninyo po ng impeachment because it’s not the right time. But now na it’s there already, paano niyo po ito nakikita na makakaapekto, especially doon sa mga ongoing priorities?

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Well, it depends on how the Senate chooses to handle it. Hindi pa maliwanag kung ano ‘yung plano ni Senate President at saka ‘yung ating mga senador kung papaano nila gagawin. If they will immediately convene, if they will still study the rules, if they are going to wait until the next session.

So, we’ll have to wait until they decide on how it’s going to be.

Q: Pero just to be categorical about it, sir, do you see this – don’t you see this as a defiance in a way considering na naging vocal na po kayo before eh that this is not the right time and yet nag-proceed pa rin ‘yung impeachment case?

PRESIDENT MARCOS: No. I am sure that the parties that filed the impeachment cases felt strongly about it. And despite my importunings and expressing my opinion that we really – we’d rather not have the impeachment, they continued to do that.

So, it’s not defiance. Ganyan ang kanilang paniniwala. Sa kanilang paniniwala kailangan na kailangang gawin ito. Kahit na sinabi ko na, “Sana huwag na”. “Hindi, hindi puwede, hindi naming puwedeng palampasin ito.” Ganoon ang thinking nila. So, tinuloy nila.

And I don’t view that as a defiance. I view that as some… They’re expressing what they feel to be right.

Q: Thank you, sir.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Thank you.

Q: Sir, other issue. Sir, ano po ‘yung nasa likod ng biglaang pagpapalit ng liderato po ng PhilHealth at ano po ang inyong direktiba sa bagong PhilHealth president, sir?

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Actually, kung titingnan ninyo ang – kung titingnan ninyo ang qualifications ni Dr. Mercado, he is very, very well-versed in both hospital administration, insurance, and all the… He’s been… His whole life has been devoted to healthcare.

And so, it was I, after noong nag-oathtaking kami, matagal kaming nag-usap. Sabi ko, baliktad, hindi ko nga siya ina-advise-san, he’s the expert. So, tinanong ko siya: “Ano sa palagay mo ang kailangan nating gawin?”

And balik… We went… Pareho kami immediately napunta ‘yung usapan sa digitalization. Kasi maganda naman ang serbisyo ng PhilHealth ngunit ‘yung pag-process ng mga file, ng claim, ng pag-apply, et cetera, ay hindi – kinakamay pa rin. Kaya’t napakabagal, and that’s why that became a priority.

But of course, beyond that, he has many other ideas on how to – on how to make the services of PhilHealth more inclusive, expanded, and again, to give better coverage sa – for different conditions as for those who have, those who will avail of the PhilHealth services and of their financial support.

 Q: Sir, nag-resign po ba si…

 PRESIDENT MARCOS: Actually, sinabi niya sa akin – actually, sinabi niya sa akin, sige that’s as far as I can tell you. Sabi niya, “I’ll go first attend – I’ll go to say in a week’s time,” sabi niya sa akin, “in a week’s time, bibigyan kita ng report much more detailed kung ano sa palagay ko ‘yung nakikita ko sa PhilHealth na puwedeng palitan, puwedeng palakihin, et cetera, et cetera.”

Q: Sir, may we know, nag-resign po ba si Ledesma?

 PRESIDENT MARCOS: Well, yes, he left his position already. Sabi niya that nahihirapan na rin yata siya sa ano, with all of the… Hindi siya sanay sa pulitika. Manny Ledesma is very much comes from the private sector. So, I think he found the transition to be jarring, shall we say.

Q: Thank you, sir.

Q: Good afternoon, sir. Sir, just would like to get your thoughts on Representative Marcoleta’s statement that there is no such thing as the West Philippine Sea?

 PRESIDENT MARCOS: Okay. All I can say, he’s expressing his opinion. When I see him, lolokohin ko siya – he is a candidate eh, so he has to grab headlines ‘di ba? So, tama ‘yung ginawa niya for a candidate.

Ngayon, we’re talking about him na. Magaling talaga siya sa ganyan. [laughs]

Q: Sir, ‘yung Chinese monster ship nasa West Philippine Sea for more than a month now, how are you going to respond to this? Will you change your approach kasi parang hindi naman umaalis doon sa area?

PRESIDENT MARCOS:  Well, we don’t have the means na paalisin.  Hindi naman – buti kung mayroon tayong aircraft carrier na may kasamang destroyer, frigate, at saka submarine na papupuntahin natin doon para matulak silang palayo. Wala naman tayong ganoon.

Kung sa palakihan at paramihan lang ng barko, malayo tayo sa China. Pero ang policy naman natin is that we will just continue to defend our territorial, our sovereign territory and our territorial rights in the EEZ. ‘Yun lang. Kahit ano pa…

Ang iniisip namin, ano bang mission ng Coast Guard? Ano bang mission ng Navy? To protect the territorial integrity of the Philippines. So, that’s what they will do. They will continue to do that. No matter what any other foreign power does, that is what we will do.

When we detect the presence of a foreign vessel who is beginning to intrude or coming close already to our coastal waters, eh papupuntahan natin ng barko, and we will challenge them. And we will make sure that they know that this is – what they are doing is illegal.

Of course, they will counter, saying that they are doing regular peacekeeping – law enforcement patrols. But they will always find – iyon ang maano – they will always find the Philippine presence. No matter what they do. Kahit na – iyon na nga, kahit na banggain na ‘yung barko natin, kahit na mag-water cannon sila, mag-laser sila, kahit kung ano pang gawin nila, mag-block sila, laging nandiyan ang Pilipinas.

We will always be there protecting our territory. We will always be there making sure our fishermen are able to exercise their sovereign rights. Nandiyan lagi.

That’s what their – that’s their mission and if their presence helps to… Kasi kung minsan napapaalis nga nila ‘yung kahit iyong malalaking barko, then better. Then, they will have achieved what they are supposed to do while patrolling our waters.

Q: Sir, last na lang from me. Sir, last week you said na you had a deal with China – ah nagbigay kayo ng kundisyon sa China na you will pull out the Typhon missile if and when China will stop its aggression. Nag-respond na po ba ang China about it?

PRESIDENT MARCOS: No. I didn’t expect them to either. Because… No, I didn’t expect them to, and they haven’t responded specifically. They have responded in general terms saying that what they do is a lawful exercise and law enforcement and all that.

But no, nothing specific on the missiles, nothing specific about the reduction of tension, the reduction of the aggressive moves. Nothing like that. Wala kaming napag-usapan na ganoon.

Q: Thank you, Mr. President.

Q: Good afternoon, Mr. President. Let me just go back to one of our interviews during one of your previous visits sa Honolulu, Hawaii when asked about the looming impeachment supposedly that time ‘no against Vice President Sara Duterte ‘no. When asked ‘no, you told reporters, you told us, “Binabantayan namin nang mabuti,” this was in Honolulu, Mr. President, “binabantayan namin nang mabuti because we don’t want her to be impeached. She does not deserve to be impeached. So, we will make sure that this is something we will pay very close attention to.” So, that time apparently you do not want her  impeached. Given these recent developments, do you hold that stance still or your position has changed?

PRESIDENT MARCOS: It doesn’t matter what I think. There will – it will have to go through with the procedure. It will go to trial. And we will have the senator-judges and they will hear the case. The prosecutors will come from the House. There will be a defense panel and it will be filed.

It doesn’t matter what I think at this point. That was my opinion. That’s my opinion when I was asked that. Wala pang. None of these had happened yet.

But wala… I have to keep reminding you. The executive has very – wala kaming formal role in the entire impeachment process. The executive has no formal role. If ever there’s an informal role. Makausap ko si Speaker. Makausap ko ‘yung congressman. Makausap ko ‘yung senador. Si SP makausap ko. But that’s about it.

Pero they will decide how they will proceed. Not… I don’t think you can expect the congressman or the senator or the SP or the Speaker to come to me, “What do you want us to do?” They know… They have their own way of doing things and that’s what they will implement.

So, siguro pinaka – the most that a president can do or any part of the executive can do is moral suasion. “Huwag na. Huwag na lang sana.” Eh wala, that didn’t work. Natuloy pa rin eh. So, we follow the process.

Q: Salamat po.

Q: Hello, sir. Sir, I know co-equal branch po natin, sir, ‘yung Senate. But are you planning, sir, to you know personally ask the Senate kung paano po nila iha-handle ‘yung impeachment para po tayo sa executive makapag-adjust — ?

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Iyong issue ng? Paano nila i — ?

Q: Kung paano po nila iha-handle once na ma-transmit na po sa kanila ‘yung impeachment para lang po tayo sa executive malaman rin po natin kung paano ‘yung gagawin nating adjustment doon sa possible effect po sa bansa nitong — ?

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Doon sa possible?

Q: Possible effect po ng impeachment sa bansa?

PRESIDENT MARCOS: It’s not… Again, you should ask – now, at least at this point it’s in the Senate, you have to ask that from the Senate. If you’re going to ask about the prosecution’s case, I don’t know if you’ll get an answer right now because they only just started. But they are the ones that you should be asking.

From this point on, I’m just a very interested observer. But again, I don’t appear, I will not be part of it, not – there will be no representation from the executive. Why should there be?

So, wala talagang we leave it to Congress, now, specifically the Senate, to exercise their own wisdom.

Q: Mr. President, sabi niyo po ang impeachment ay hindi makapagdudulot ng kabutihan sa buhay ng kahit isang Pilipino. Noong nag-ask po ng advice sa inyo si Congressman Sandro Marcos, as a father and as a father of this nation, hindi niyo po ba naisip o na-advisan (advise) siya na gawin ang kanyang duty para sa kapakanan at interes ng mas nakararaming mga Pilipino at kung ano po ‘yung stand ninyo na sana ay huwag matuloy ‘yung impeachment?

PRESIDENT MARCOS: The House is a collegial body. They decide as one. And that was what the House decided. He is a member of the House of Representatives.

So, as a member of the House of Representatives, he has to do his duty. Whatever his opinions might be, he must do his duty. Even if he is hesitant… If any – all this… This applies to not only my son; it applies to all the congressmen. They must…

Once na-file na ‘yung impeachment complaint, gawin niyo na ‘yung trabaho ninyo. Wala na silang choice. Iyon ang tinutukoy ko, ‘yung una kong statement tungkol dito. The Senate has no choice, the House has no choice. That’s exactly what the situation is once the – the second that the complaint were filed.

Q: Ang government po ba ay ready kung anuman po ‘yung maging effect, implication nung sakaling matuloy po ‘yung impeachment trial sa Senado? If in case po na – if kasi magtatrabaho po sila baka maapektuhan ‘yung kanilang — ?

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Well, we don’t know nga eh. Hintayin natin kung ano ‘yung gagawin nila. Because I don’t know. Hindi pala – wala tayong timetable, wala tayong ano – papaano iko-conduct, what are the rules that will be followed, et cetera.

Hintayin natin. It’s – again, it’s up to them how they decide to have their trial. When they have their trial, what are the rules for the trial, how they will conduct it, et cetera, et cetera. So, who will be the presiding judge. If we have a senator-judge, who will be the presiding – all of that.

Q: Last na lang po. Wala po bang plano ang ating Pangulo na pakiusapan po sila?

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Si?

Q: Kayo po, wala po ba kayong plano bilang Pangulo ng ating bansa para pakiusapan sila na huwag nang ituloy ‘yung impeachment dahil baka makaabala nga naman po sa trabaho ng ating gobyerno at siyempre sa buhay at pamumuhay ng ating mga kababayan?

PRESIDENT MARCOS: The Senate has no choice. The House has no choice.

They have to do this now. Once the impeachment complaint was filed, tumakbo na ang proseso. At kung hindi nila ipatakbo ‘yung proseso, then they are delinquent in their duties. That’s why they just have – that’s what I meant.

The House has no choice. They have to proceed with the impeachment complaint. The Senate now has no choice. They have to try the impeachment complaint.

So, making pakiusap, doing that, it won’t change anything. It won’t change anything. They still have to have a trial.

Q: Sir, natapos na ‘yung session kahapon ng Congress. Magpapatawag po ba kayo ng special session para – so that the Senate can proceed with the impeachment trial?

PRESIDENT MARCOS: If the senators ask for it, yes.

Again, sila ang magde-decide. Hindi kami ang nagde-decide nito. We – if the Senate President calls me up on the telephone, “the senators, kinausap ko ‘yung mga senador kung puwede bang mag-special session?” “Sure.” Gagawin ko. Pero kung wala silang request na ganoon, ibig sabihin may iba pa silang ginagawa. They are not yet ready.

Q: Wala pang request ngayon, sir?

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Huh?

Q: Wala pang request as we speak?

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Napakaaga naman. They just got it yesterday.

Q: Thank you, sir.

Q: Sir, good afternoon. I just want to get your thoughts lang, sir, may kumakalat kasing mga issue din na may mga kapalit na ayuda po ‘yung mga pumirma pong mga congressman sa impeachment ay binigyan po daw ng ayuda? Your thoughts on this. Baka sakali, sir, na diversionary tactics or they wanted to undermine ‘yung credibility po ng House?

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Yeah, clearly, they are undermining the process by saying that all this that… Yeah, I’ve heard also the assertion that may ganoon.

I don’t think so. Overwhelming ang boto – ang pumirma eh. At ‘yung sa – ano ba ‘yung pumirma, 215? Ang pagkaintindi ko that mayroon pang mga congressman na gusto sanang pumirma pero out-of-town. So, hindi sila makapunta para pumirma. In fact, nagtatanong ang iba kung puwede e-signature. Eh mukhang hindi puwede kasi kailangan ka sa harap ng SecGen at saka isusumpa at saka naka-notarize.

So, but they – I don’t think that kind of ano two-thirds? Two-thirds of the Senate, 306 sila, they got 215. So, over – just a little bit over two-thirds. Hindi mo makukuha sa ganoong klaseng sistema ‘yan.

I know, I’ve been in Congress. I don’t think that way of operating would have worked. Not – certainly not to the extent that you get 215 signatures.

Q: Good afternoon, sir. Sir, may we just get your thoughts on the statement of Representative Paolo Duterte that the impeachment was just an abuse of power and political persecution?

PRESIDENT MARCOS: What else will he say? Alangan namang sabihin niya, tama lahat ‘yan. Dapat talaga siya ‘yung… Nothing – nothing surprising.

We have heard these statements from Congressman Pulong before.  I just see as a reaction to that but he’s – by Pulong Duterte about Sara Duterte. So, not exactly surprising. Okay?

Q: Thank you, sir.

Q: Sir, may I ask you, do you agree that somehow your opinions or statements has influenced certain members of Congress? Like somehow, sir, parang reverse psychology like sending a kind of signal?

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Well, I said, it did, because none of – like I said, wala naman sa ‘yung masasabi kong kaalyado namin sa House ang nag-file ng impeachment. Kasi ‘yan ang pakiusap ko sa kanila, “Huwag na kayong mag-file ng impeachment.” So, hindi sila nag-file ng impeachment. Ang nag-file ng impeachment, ibang grupo. Hindi mo masasabi ‘yung grupong ‘yun kaalyado ko. So, they just did what they felt was needed to be done.

Q:  Thank you, sir.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Thank you.

Q: Good afternoon, Mr. President. I know nag-i-start pa lang naman po ito pero gaano po kaya tayo kahanda sa economic impact po ng impeachment trial at posible po kasi itong maka-slow down sa atin pong momentum?

PRESIDENT MARCOS: I doubt it very much. I feel… Hindi naman siguro. Wala akong nakikitang magiging effect na ganoon.

Basta’t patuloy ang ating pinaplano, lahat ‘yung ating mga strategy tungkol sa investment, tungkol sa mga bagong structural changes nga na lagi kong pinag-uusapan. Iyon lang naman ang tinitingnan ng investors. So, I don’t think it will have any effect.

Q: Okay, thank you, sir.

Q: Good afternoon, sir. If I may recall your statement last year prior to the filing of the impeachment complaints, you said that you didn’t want impeachment complaints to be filed because it would only distract legislators from doing their jobs. It will not serve to our benefit any Filipino. Given that, what’s your guidance to Congress so that they won’t be…?

PRESIDENT MARCOS: I do not give guidance to Congress.

Q: But how do you see the problem of not distracting them from doing their job?

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Again, you give me far too much credit that I can tell congressmen to do this and to do that. I cannot.

I do not give guidance to Congress. We are independent of each other. Of course, we talk to each other about all kinds of things. But hindi ko kaya na sasabihin, “Gawin mo ito. Gawin mo ‘yan.” Hindi ko kayang gawin ‘yun. I don’t. I don’t even attempt to do that.

So, let’s be very clear there. That… Sure, when I’m talking to them, they asked my opinion, I gave them my opinion. But it’s up to them to take it or not. You cannot call it guidance na kailangan nilang sundin.

Q: But are you not afraid that you know, it might derail your effort or it might derail priority measures in Congress because you know the Senate will be busy with the impeachments?

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Slowly please, I cannot understand.

Q: Are you not afraid that the – you were afraid before that the impeachment process might derail or might sidetrack the priority measures of your administration. Given that this is already happening, are you not fearful or afraid that it might actually come to pass your fears from before?

PRESIDENT MARCOS: What did we talk about 80 percent of the time today? Impeachment. It happened already. It’s happening already. Imbes na pag-usapan natin ang agrarian reform, imbes na pag-usapan natin ang climate change, we’re talking about impeachment.

So, what you’re asking is not – I’m not afraid it’s about to happen? It’s happened. Look at today. Today, we’re talking about impeachment the whole time.

Q: Last na lang, sir. When you gave those – when you uttered those words that you’re not in favor of impeaching the Vice President, that happened when it was not yet filed. You made that very clear. And yet, you did say that it is Congress’ constitutional duty to let the process go, to let the impeachment process proceed as constitutionally mandated. However, the outcome is actually contrary to what you actually want, which is not to impeach the Vice President?

PRESIDENT MARCOS: No. Where is the contrary – where is it contrary to what I said?

Q: Because you don’t – because your thoughts was you do not want the Vice President to be impeached, that’s what you said before. Given that, do you feel that – don’t you have any ill feelings towards congressmen who led to the transmittal of the impeachment complaints to the Senate?

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Well, the congressmen with whom I – I’ll just repeat it again, lahat ng tinatawag kong kaalyado ko sa House of Representatives, wala sa kanila ang nag-file.

Q: But they signed it, sir.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Huh?

Q: But they signed it.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Because it’s already there. Nandiyan na eh. Ano pang gagawin nila? And there was a very – clearly a large bloc in Congress at least 215 who wanted to file – to sign the impeachment. They did not file a case because I asked them not to.  Paikot-ikot na tayo. I’m sorry.

Q: Mr. President, did you not ask them not to sign the impeachment complaint since nasabi niyo po na napakiusapan niyo sila?

PRESIDENT MARCOS: They didn’t file. Nobody filed. None of the members of the parties that we are in alliance with filed an impeachment complaint.

Q: Yes po, sabi niyo napakiusapan niyo sila na huwag mag-file kaya walang nag-file na kaalyado ninyo. Hindi niyo rin po ba sila napakiusapan na huwag mag-sign doon sa itiniransmit (transmit) sa Senado para sa — ?

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Eh wala na akong pakialam doon. Tapos na. It’s been — it’s already in the House. That’s the House’s decision. Iyong congressmen na ang magde-decide kung ano ‘yung gagawin niya dahil pananagutan nga ng House of Representatives ‘yan.

Again, you keep… There’s this constant implication that I am somehow giving instructions and making utos, “do this and do that and do that.” That’s not the case at all. That’s not how it works. Not at all. Not at all.

All right. Okay na tayo? Oh, sige. Okay, see you next month. [laughter]

Q: Thank you, sir.

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